US will reconsider its advisories on travel to J&K: Ambassador Sergio Gor

US Ambassador Sergio Gor said Washington will review its travel advisory for Jammu and Kashmir after meeting Omar Abdullah in Srinagar. His remarks pointed to possible movement on the warning as he praised recent safety steps and the region's tourism appeal.Sergio Gor's visit to Srinagar marked the first standalone visit by a US envoy to Jammu and Kashmir in six years (Photo: X/Omar Abdullah) The United States will look at reviewing its travel advisory for Jammu and Kashmir, US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor said on Wednesday while praising steps taken by the Centre and the Omar Abdullah government to improve safety in the region. Gor's remark came during a visit to Jammu and Kashmir -- the first such standalone visit by a US envoy in six years -- during which he was asked whether Washington would consider downgrading its present travel warning for the region.Notably, the US has a Level 4 “do not travel” advisory for Jammu and Kashmir that cites terrorism as a major safety concern.Speaking in Srinagar after meeting Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Gor said the US regularly reassesses its travel warnings and would look at whether the advisory for the region should be eased. “The United States puts out travel warnings and every so often we re-evaluate those travel warnings. I cannot make any big announcements here today, but it is something that we are going to look at,” Gor said.“We will be looking at whether the travel warning that is imposed, that is recommended by the United States, is something that should be downgraded,” Gor said, adding that he believed Jammu and Kashmir could attract more American visitors. “This is a beautiful area, I think a lot of Americans would enjoy coming here and seeing the beauty and opportunity that exists here." Incidentally, Gor's comments came just hours after former J&K CM Mehboota Mufti made an appeal on the subject. "The least the US Ambassador Sergio Gor can do is review and withdraw the highest level travel advisory against visiting Kashmir," Mufti had said, adding that such a move would serve as a powerful statement and bring added support to Kashmiri families dependent on tourism. ‘IMPORTANT PART OF INDIA’Gor’s remarks during his first visit to Srinagar also included a significant statement on Jammu and Kashmir. “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. He also praised the efforts being made to improve security in the region, saying the government of India, the Chief Minister and the J&K government had taken “some incredible steps” towards making the area safer.Gor described his meeting with Abdullah as “very good”, “very warm” and “very cordial”, saying the two sides had follow-up discussions planned.“We have some follow-ups, so we hope to take back to Washington, back to Delhi,” he said.In a post on X, Gor said his discussions with Abdullah focused on the Chief Minister’s “priorities” for Kashmir and ways to deepen economic cooperation.“We discussed ways to deepen economic collaboration and create opportunities that would mutually benefit both of our nations,” Gor said.The meeting was significant as it marked the first interaction between a serving US ambassador and a sitting Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister in more than 15 years. The last such meeting took place in 2011, when then US envoy Timothy Roemer met Abdullah.Gor’s visit is also the first by a US envoy to the Union Territory since the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019 and comes after the Pahalgam terror attack.ABDULLAH: ‘WASHINGTON WON’T SOLVE OUR PROBLEMS’Ahead of the meeting, Abdullah firmly rejected any link between the US envoy’s visit and issues that concern Jammu and Kashmir. “Washington won't solve our problems; the Centre will. I would rather listen to him [Gor] instead of complaining,” Abdullah told reporters.Abdullah has repeatedly sought the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood since his National Conference government came to power in the Union Territory.GOR TO VISIT LADAKHGor is also scheduled to meet Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and will travel to Ladakh on Thursday.His visit comes amid a deepening India-US strategic relationship and follows recent interactions between Gor and Union Home Minister Amit Shah on counter-terrorism.The visit also comes seven years after the Centre revoked Jammu and Kashmir’s special status and bifurcated the erstwhile state into two Union Territories.Gor is known to be close to US President Donald Trump. There has also been speculation that he could meet trade representatives and members of civil society during his Srinagar visit, although there is no official confirmation of such meetings.- EndsPublished By: Sonali VermaPublished On: Aug 19, 2026 16:18 IST