Srinagar, Aug 19 (NVI) In comments that would pour cold water on Pakistan’s propaganda, US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor today underlined that Jammu and Kashmir is “an important part of India”.
On his first visit to Kashmir, Gor also said that the US would have a relook at the traval advisories issued for American citizens in relation to their intentions to visit the Valley in view of security concerns.
“This (Kashmir) is an important part of India. I am visiting the place for the first time. It is an incredibly beautiful place,” he said after his meeting with Chief Minister Omar Abdullah who was by his side as he spoke to the media persons.
The comment that Kashmir is a “part of India” made by such an important American functionary, who is a personal pick of President Donald Trump, puts cold water in Pakistan’s sustained propaganda that the region is “disputed”.
So, soon after Gor’s comment, Pakistan government summoned the US Ambassador in Islamabad to the Foreign Office and protested.
Gor, who is also Trump’s Special Envoy for South and Central Asia, said he had “a very warm meeting (with Abdullah) and we look forward to building on our relationship.”
This was the first visit by an American Ambassador to Kashmir in a long time and marks a huge significance.
Speaking about the meeting with Gor, Abdullah said he had the opportunity to discuss US-India relations with a focus on Jammu and Kashmir.
“We had a very good meeting. We had an opportunity to discuss the relations between our two countries, but with specific focus on what the US can do with Jammu and Kashmir. There are obviously certain legacy issues that, over time, we will be working to resolve, but we look forward to taking this conversation further,” Abdullah said.
Noting that the conversation will continue between Washington, New Delhi and Srinagar, Abdullah said: “We are very hopeful and optimistic that the engagement between the United States of America and Jammu and Kashmir will both widen and deepen in the years ahead.”
Gor noted that the security situation in the Valley had improved significantly and said, “We will be looking at whether the travel warning that is recommended by the United States is something that should be downgraded.”
He said, “New Delhi, the chief minister here, the government here, we believe, have taken some incredible steps toward keeping this area safer and making it more secure… This is a beautiful area. I think a lot of Americans would enjoy coming here and seeing the beauty.”
The US advisory has remained an issue of concern for the Jammu and Kashmir administration, particularly as the government seeks to attract more international tourists. (NVI)
