Pakistan summons US envoy over Sergio Gor's Jammu and Kashmir remarks during his recent visit to Srinagar (Img: X)
Srinagar: US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor’s first visit to Jammu and Kashmir has triggered a fresh diplomatic debate after he described the Union Territory as an “important part of India” and indicated that Washington may review its travel advisory for the region.
Gor made the remarks during his visit to Srinagar, where he met Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and discussed possibilities of strengthening ties between J&K and the United States.
During his interaction with reporters, Gor said, “This is an important part of India and I'm here visiting for the first time.” He also praised the beauty of the region and expressed interest in expanding engagement in areas such as tourism and economic opportunities.
The US envoy also said Washington would reassess its travel advisory for Jammu and Kashmir, which currently advises against travel to the region due to security concerns.
Gor said the US would examine whether the advisory could be downgraded, citing improvements in security conditions and efforts by the government.
Pakistan reacted strongly to Gor’s remarks and summoned the US Chargé d’Affaires in Islamabad, calling the comments “irresponsible.”
Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry claimed that the statement was against its position on Kashmir and argued that the issue should be resolved according to UN resolutions.
Islamabad has historically sought international involvement on Kashmir, while India has maintained that the issue is bilateral and rejects third-party mediation.
A possible downgrade of the US travel advisory could provide a major boost to Kashmir’s tourism sector by encouraging more international visitors.
The region’s tourism industry has often highlighted travel restrictions as a challenge affecting foreign tourist arrivals.
During his Srinagar visit, Sergio Gor also took a shikara ride on Dal Lake and highlighted the region’s tourism potential.
The visit and remarks have added a new dimension to India-US relations and the ongoing diplomatic discourse around Jammu and Kashmir.
