'Jammu and Kashmir Important Part Of India': US Ambassador Sergio Gor In Srinagar

Srinagar: The United States' Ambassador Sergio Gor, who visited Srinagar for the first time, on Wednesday made a strong statement in support of India's decades-old stance on Jammu and Kashmir by calling the UT "an important part of India". 

What did the US Ambassador say?

The "big statement" by Gor came after he met J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah for the first meeting of a standalone meeting by a US envoy to the Union Territory since the repeal of Article 370 and after the attack on the Pahalgam.

"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. I am thrilled to be here, thrilled to see this place," an ecstatic Gor said. Gor's comment will be viewed as a flattering acknowledgment of India's position that J&K has always been and will remain a part of India, in the wake of Pakistan's repeated misadventures in the region.

Did he hint at downgrading J&K travel advisory?

The US envoy, who is close to US President Donald Trump, also claimed that the US will rethink downgrading its highest travel alert for J&K. The US currently has a Level 4 "do not travel" advisory to J&K owing to the terror threat.

In this regard Gor's comment is important. "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," he said.

"I think a lot of Americans would enjoy coming here and seeing the beauty and opportunity that exists here," he further said.

Just hours before Gor's visit to the Valley, Mehbooba Mufti, former chief minister and PDP chief, urged him to look at and revoke America's stringent travel advisory, noting that thousands of families in the Valley rely on tourism for their livelihood.

If the US does ease the advisory, it will boost Kashmir's image as a safe destination for foreign travellers.

What happen during the meet?

The US envoy also held bilateral discussions with Abdullah. Abdullah's "priorities" for Kashmir and efforts to strengthen economic cooperation were discussed during the talks, said Gor in a post on X.

"We discussed ways to deepen economic collaboration and create opportunities that would mutually benefit both of our nations," Gor tweeted.

Abdullah, meanwhile, reported that the talks focused on enhancing cooperation with the US in the areas of tourism, horticulture and the new economy.

The Chief Minister reiterated that there are certainly some legacy issues that will be worked out in the years to come as the engagement between the US and J&K will be broadened and deepened.