US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor said on Wednesday that Washington will reconsider its travel advisories for Jammu and Kashmir. He described the Union Territory as an ‘important part of India’ during his maiden visit to the region.
After meeting Chief Minister Omar Abdullah in Srinagar, Gor said he was pleased to visit the region for the first time. He praised its beauty and described the meeting as productive.
Gor said both sides had follow-up matters to pursue. He added that the discussions would be taken forward in Washington and New Delhi. He further expressed hope of strengthening bilateral engagement.
Gor arrived in Srinagar on Wednesday for a two-day visit covering Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.
Abdullah had earlier said he would discuss the regional situation with Gor. He ruled out raising internal matters with the US representative, stating that only the Central government could resolve those issues.
After the meeting, Abdullah described the talks as productive. He said discussions focused on India-US relations, with particular attention to what Washington could do for Jammu and Kashmir.
The Chief Minister referred to certain ‘legacy issues’ that could be addressed over time. He said he remained optimistic about expanding and deepening engagement between the US and Jammu and Kashmir.
Abdullah said the dialogue would continue between Gor and Washington, as well as between the Jammu and Kashmir government and New Delhi.
Gor is the first US Ambassador to visit Jammu and Kashmir since the abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019. His assertion that J&K forms an important part of India carries political significance locally.
It comes against the backdrop of separatist groups’ earlier efforts to draw international attention during years of heightened terror activity.
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