Srinagar: US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor on Wednesday said that Jammu and Kashmir is an “important part of India” during his visit to the Union Territory, in a statement seen as significant amid India-Pakistan tensions.
Gor, who is also serving as US President Donald Trump’s special envoy, met Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah during his first visit to the region. Speaking to reporters after the meeting, the ambassador praised the beauty of Kashmir and said he was hopeful about strengthening relations.
“Kashmir is an important part of India. This is my first time here. It is an incredibly beautiful place,” Gor said. He also described his meeting with Omar Abdullah as very good and expressed optimism about developing stronger ties.
The remarks come at a politically sensitive time, particularly after the tensions between India and Pakistan following Operation Sindoor. Gor’s visit is being closely watched because it marks the first visit to Jammu and Kashmir by a senior US diplomat holding a special envoy role since the military operation.
During his meeting with Gor, Omar Abdullah said discussions covered relations between India and the United States as well as possible areas of cooperation concerning Jammu and Kashmir.
“We had a very good meeting. We discussed relations between the two countries and what America can do for Jammu and Kashmir,” Abdullah said. He added that several issues remained to be addressed, but expressed hope that they could be resolved through dialogue.
Abdullah also said he was optimistic that relations between Jammu and Kashmir and the United States could become broader and deeper in the coming days.
Gor’s comments are significant because the status of Jammu and Kashmir has long been a contentious issue between India and Pakistan. New Delhi has consistently maintained that Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India, while Pakistan continues to raise the issue internationally.
The US ambassador’s public reference to Jammu and Kashmir as an important part of India comes against this broader diplomatic backdrop. His visit also provides an opportunity for Washington to engage directly with the region’s political leadership.
The meeting between Gor and Abdullah is expected to attract attention in both New Delhi and Islamabad, particularly as India-US relations continue to evolve under the Trump administration.
The ambassador’s visit also highlights Washington’s interest in maintaining engagement with Jammu and Kashmir while strengthening its broader relationship with India.
