Pakistan summons top US diplomat after envoy Sergio Gor calls Jammu & Kashmir ‘important part of India’

Pakistan on Wednesday summoned the US Charge d’Affaires in Islamabad Natalie Baker and lodged a protest after US envoy to India Sergio Gor described Jammu and Kashmir as an “important part of India” during his visit to Srinagar.

"Pakistan strongly condemned and categorically rejected the characterisation of Jammu and Kashmir as a "part of ndia". It was underscored that Jammu and Kashmir is an internationally recognised disputed territory, awaiting Final disposition in accordance with the relevant UNSC resolutions and the aspirations of the Kashmiri people," the Pakistani Foreign Ministry said in a press statement.

Read more: ‘Jammu and Kashmir is an important part of India’: US envoy Sergio Gor says after meeting Omar Abdullah


The remarks came as Gor made his first visit to Jammu and Kashmir since taking office and met chief minister Omar Abdullah. “It’s a pleasure to be here. This is an important part of India. I am here, visiting for the first time. It is an incredibly beautiful place. I am thrilled to be here,” the US envoy said.


"It was underscored that Jammu and Kashmir is an internationally recognised disputed territory, awaiting final disposition in accordance with the relevant UNSC resolutions and the aspirations of the Kashmiri people," the statement added.

It was further highlighted that the “irresponsible statement” by the US ambassador “negated the long-standing and well-documented position of the United States on the Jammu and Kashmir dispute, and also ran contrary to the US commitment to the supremacy of international law and the UN Charter,” it said.

While appreciating President Donald Trump's offer to mediate between India and Pakistan to resolve the Kashmir issue in the aftermath of the four-day conflict in May last year, the US side "was urged to ensure that its public statements remain consistent with the disputed status of Jammu and Kashmir," the statement added.

'US to reconsider travel advisories'

The United States will reconsider the advisories on travel to Jammu and Kashmir as the central government and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah have taken steps to make it a safer place, US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor said on Wednesday.

"The United States puts out travel warnings and every so often, we re-evaluate those travel warnings. I cannot make any big announcements here today, but it is something we are going to look at," said Gor.

"So, we will be looking at if the travel warning that is imposed and recommended by the United States is something that should be downgraded because, as I said earlier, this is a beautiful area. I think a lot of Americans would enjoy coming here and seeing the beauty and the opportunities that exist here," the US envoy added.

Gor will visit Ladakh on Thursday.

Abdullah said he discussed with Gor the relations between New Delhi and Washington with a specific focus on Jammu and Kashmir.

"It was a very good meeting. We had an opportunity to discuss the relations between our two countries, but with a specific focus on what the US can do with Jammu and Kashmir," the chief minister said.

"There are obviously certain legacy issues that over time we will be working to resolve. But we look forward to taking this conversation further. This is a conversation that will take place both between Ambassador Gor and Washington, and between me and the Government of India in New Delhi," he said.

Abdullah said he is very hopeful and optimistic that the engagement between the United States and Jammu and Kashmir will "both widen and deepen in the years ahead".