New Delhi, Aug 21: India on Friday categorically dismissed Pakistan’s diplomatic protest over US Ambassador Sergio Gor’s remarks describing Jammu and Kashmir as an “important part of India”, with the Ministry of External Affairs stating it saw no reason to engage with Islamabad’s “frustration” over the statement.
The strong rebuttal came a day after Pakistan summoned the US Charge d’Affaires to lodge a formal protest over Gor’s comments during his first official visit to the Union Territory.
Addressing the bi-weekly press briefing in New Delhi, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal reiterated India’s unwavering position on the status of the region.
“I will repeat, Jammu, Kashmir, and Ladakh are integral and indivisible parts of India. They were, they are, and they will remain so,” Jaiswal asserted. When pressed on Pakistan’s diplomatic move, he retorted, “I see no reason to comment on Pakistan’s frustration. This is what I have to say.”
The diplomatic flare-up follows Gor’s visit to Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday, where he not only termed the region an “important part of India” but also hinted that Washington might reconsider its highest-level travel advisory for the area. “This is an important part of India and so I’m here visiting for the first time. It’s an incredibly beautiful place,” Gor was quoted as saying, adding that the US would take “follow-ups” back to Washington and New Delhi to build the relationship forward.
The remarks, however, drew sharp criticism from Islamabad, which summoned the US Charge d’Affaires and lodged a protest, terming Gor’s comments “factually incorrect” and a departure from Washington’s long-standing position on the Kashmir issue. In a statement, Pakistan’s foreign office “strongly condemned” the remarks as “irresponsible”, insisting that Jammu and Kashmir’s status awaits “final disposition” in accordance with UNSC resolutions and the “aspirations of the Kashmiri people”.
Islamabad further claimed that Gor’s statement ran “contrary to the United States’ commitment to the supremacy of international law and the UN charter.”
Meanwhile, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah sought to distance himself from the controversy on Thursday, stating that Pakistan’s summoning of a US diplomat was a bilateral issue between Islamabad and Washington. “It is an issue between Pakistan and the United States. We have nothing to do with it,” Abdullah said, effectively sidestepping the diplomatic row.
Gor’s visit and his remarks are being closely watched as a potential indicator of a shift in Washington’s stance on the region, with the US envoy signalling a possible “downgrade” of its travel warning for J&K—a move that would mark a significant departure from its previous security assessments.
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