J&K important part of India: US envoy Sergio Gor's big remark in Srinagar

Sergio Gor's Kashmir visit is the first trip by a US ambassador to the Union Territory since the abrogation of Article 370 and after the 2025 Pahalgam attack, which sparked hostilities with Pakistan.US envoy Sergio Gor and J&K CM Omar AbdullahIn a strong endorsement of India's longstanding position on Jammu and Kashmir, US ambassador Sergio Gor on Wednesday called the Union Territory "an important part of India" during his first visit to Srinagar. Gor's big remark came after he met J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, marking the first standalone trip by a US envoy to the Union Territory since the abrogation of Article 370 and after the Pahalgam attack."It is 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," Gor said. The remark by Gor will be seen as a big shout-out to India's stated position that J&K is an inalienable and integral part of the country amid Pakistan's repeated misadventures in the region.The US envoy, known to be close to US President Donald Trump, also asserted that the US would reconsider downgrading its strict J&K travel warning. Presently, the US has a level 4 "do not travel" advisory for J&K due to terrorism concerns."We will be looking at whether the travel warning that is imposed, which is recommended by the United States, is something that should be downgraded... have made some incredible steps to keeping this area safer and making it more safe," Gor further said. In a post on X, Gor said the talks focused on Abdullah's "priorities" for Kashmir and ways to deepen economic collaboration."We discussed ways to deepen economic collaboration and create opportunities that would mutually benefit both of our nations," Gor tweeted. Previously, while speaking to the media, Abdullah did not attach much importance to the visit, underlining that "Washington won't solve Kashmir's problems".NEXT STOP: LADAKH On Thursday, Gor will travel to Ladakh, which will again be a first visit by a US envoy to the region following the 2020 Galwan clash and the border standoff with China.The high-profile visit by a US envoy assumes significance as it comes seven years after the Centre revoked J&K's special status and bifurcated it into two Union Territories. Moreover, it also comes at a time when the neighbouring Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (POK) is on the boil amid violent protests by residents over excesses by the army.There is also speculation that Gor could interact with representatives of trade bodies and members of civil society during his stay in Srinagar. However, there is no official confirmation yet.WHY US ENVOY'S KASHMIR VISIT IS IMPORTANT?The visit comes against the backdrop of a deepening India-US strategic partnership and follows recent interactions between Gor and Union Home Minister Amit Shah on counter-terrorism.The visit of the US envoy is historic on several counts.Significantly, this will be the first meeting between a serving US ambassador and a sitting J&K chief minister in more than 15 years. The last such meeting was in 2011, when then US envoy Timothy Roemer met Abdullah.Moreover, the last such standalone visit to Kashmir by a US envoy was by Kenneth Juster in 2018, shortly after the fall of the PDP-BJP government. Juster visited Kashmir in 2020 as well, but as part of a multi-nation delegation.Crucially, it also marks a return to direct engagement between the US envoy and J&K's government.'WASHINGTON WON'T SOLVE OUR PROBLEMS'Earlier in the day, Omar Abdullah refused to hype up the visit, emphasising that he would not be raising any complaints about Kashmir with the US envoy. Since his National Conference came to power in J&K, Abdullah has been persistently demanding the restoration of J&K's statehood."Washington won't solve our problems; the Centre will. I would rather listen to him instead of complaining," Abdullah told reporters.- EndsPublished By: Abhishek DePublished On: Aug 19, 2026 15:25 IST