‘J&K an Important Part of India’: Gor’s Remark Leaves Pakistan Uneasy; US Diplomat Summoned

    20-Aug-2026
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India Sergio Gor
 
 
Pakistan on Wednesday summoned the US Charge d’Affaires in Islamabad and issued a demarche after US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor, during his first visit to Jammu Kashmir since taking office, described the Union Territory as an “important part of India.”
 
 
 
 
Gor made the remarks after meeting Jammu Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah in Srinagar.
 
 
After the meeting, Gor said:
 
“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. 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.”
 
 
 
 
Gor also indicated that Washington could review its travel advisory for Jammu and Kashmir, citing steps taken by the Centre and the Omar Abdullah-led government to improve safety.
 

“The United States puts out travel warnings and every so often we reevaluate those travel warnings. I cannot make any big announcements here today but it is something that we are going to look at. New Delhi, the Chief Minister here, the Govt here, we believe have made some incredible steps to keeping this area safer and making it more safe.
 
 

So, we will be looking at if the travel warning that is imposed, that is recommended by the United States is something that should be downgraded. This is a beautiful area, I think a lot of Americans would enjoy coming here and seeing the beauty and opportunity that exists here.”
 
 
 
During his visit, Gor also took a shikara ride on Dal Lake in Srinagar.
 
“Appreciated the opportunity to meet with Jammu Kashmir Chief Minister @OmarAbdullah and to learn more about his priorities. We discussed ways to deepen economic collaboration and create opportunities that would mutually benefit both of our nations”, Ambassador Sergio Gor shared on X after meeting J&K CM Omar Abdullah.
 
Gor’s remarks triggered uneasiness in Pakistan, with Islamabad summoning the US Charge d’Affaires and issuing a demarche, calling his comments “irresponsible.”