US Says Jammu & Kashmir is an Integral Part of India… Pakistan Condemns

The United States has once again reiterated the position that India has long maintained regarding Jammu & Kashmir. US Ambassador Sergio Gor clarified that Jammu & Kashmir is an integral part of India. Arriving in Srinagar on Wednesday as part of his two-day visit, he toured Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh. On this occasion, he also met with Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.

Speaking on the occasion, Gor stated: “Kashmir is an integral part of India. It is a very important part as well. This is my first time coming here. It is an amazingly beautiful region. Our meeting was extremely cordial. We are making efforts to further strengthen the relations between the two countries.”

Gor mentioned that the security situation in the Kashmir Valley is improving. He added that while he cannot make any major announcement regarding changing the travel advisory at present, the US government might consider reducing it. However, he expressed confidence that the local governments here will take steps to make the region even safer.

The visit of the US Ambassador to Srinagar carries significant importance following the abrogation of Article 370. In particular, the US Ambassador publicly describing Jammu & Kashmir as an important part of India is a notable development. At a time when Pakistan continues to assert its claim over Jammu & Kashmir, the US Ambassador speaking in favor of India’s stand will serve as a crucial milestone.

Pakistan Condemns…

Following the comments made by US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor during his Srinagar visit, where he described Jammu & Kashmir as an “important part of India,” Pakistan summoned US Charge d’Affaires Natalie Baker on Wednesday to convey its “strong protest.” Hours after his remarks, the Pakistan Foreign Office summoned the US Charge d’Affaires in Islamabad and rejected his description of Jammu & Kashmir as part of India.

It stated that those remarks were “contrary to facts.” “Pakistan strongly condemns and firmly rejects the description of Jammu & Kashmir as a ‘part of India,'” the Foreign Office said in a statement. “It reiterated that Jammu & Kashmir is an internationally recognized disputed territory awaiting a final resolution in accordance with the relevant UN Security Council resolutions and the aspirations of the Kashmiri people,” the statement added.