Pakistan has summoned the U.S. Chargé d’Affaires in Islamabad and lodged a strong diplomatic protest over remarks made by U.S. Ambassador to India and Special Envoy for South and Central Asia Sergio Gor during his recent visit to Jammu and Kashmir. During his Srinagar visit on August 19, Gor described Jammu and Kashmir as an “important part of India” and praised the efforts of the Central Government and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah in improving the security situation and promoting tourism. He also indicated that the United States could reconsider its travel advisory for Jammu and Kashmir, following what he described as positive developments in the Union Territory. The remarks triggered a sharp response from Pakistan, with its Foreign Office summoning U.S. Chargé d’Affaires Natalie Baker and issuing a strong demarche. Pakistan rejected Gor’s description of Jammu and Kashmir as a part of India, maintaining that the region is an internationally recognised disputed territory. The Pakistani Foreign Office said the U.S. ambassador’s remarks were “irresponsible” and argued that they contradicted what Islamabad described as Washington’s long-standing position on the Jammu and Kashmir dispute, as well as its stated commitment to international law and the UN Charter. Pakistan also referred to U.S. President Donald Trump’s earlier offer of mediation between India and Pakistan following the four-day conflict in May last year, urging Washington to ensure that its public statements remain consistent with its position on the Kashmir issue. The diplomatic exchange comes shortly after Sergio Gor’s meetings in Srinagar, where he met Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha during his maiden visit to the Union Territory. The development has once again brought the Jammu and Kashmir dispute, India-Pakistan relations and the role of the United States in the region into focus, amid renewed diplomatic attention following Gor’s visit.
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