Pakistan objected to US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor’s description of Jammu and Kashmir as an “important part of India", calling the remark “irresponsible" and “factually incorrect".
Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned the US Charge d’Affaires in Islamabad to lodge a strong demarche over Gor’s remarks, which came during his two-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir.
Islamabad “strongly condemned and categorically rejected" the characterisation of Jammu and Kashmir as “a part of India", Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry said. It also urged the United States to ensure that its public statements remain consistent with what Islamabad described as the “disputed status" of Jammu and Kashmir.
“It was highlighted that the irresponsible statement by the U.S. Ambassador negated the long-standing and well-documented position of the United States on the Jammu & Kashmir dispute, and also ran contrary to the United States’ commitment to supremacy of international law and the UN Charter," the ministry said.
India has consistently maintained that the entire Jammu and Kashmir, including Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), is an integral and inalienable part of the country.
What Did Sergio Gor Say?
Sergio Gor made the remarks after arriving in Srinagar for his first visit to Jammu and Kashmir as the US ambassador. He met Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and described the region as an “important part of India".
“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, thrilled to see this place," Gor said.
He also described his meeting with Omar Abdullah as “very good" and “very cordial", saying there would be follow-up discussions in Washington and New Delhi.
“We just had a very good meeting. We have some follow-ups, so we hope to take back to Washington, back to Delhi. But a very warm, a very cordial and we look forward to building this relationship forward," he said.
Gor also indicated that the United States could review its travel advisory for the Union Territory.
