Islamabad, Aug 19: Pakistan on Wednesday summoned US Chargé d’Affaires Natalie Baker and lodged a “strong demarche” over remarks by US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor regarding Jammu and Kashmir during his visit to the union territory.
In Srinagar, Gor told reporters on Wednesday that Jammu and Kashmir is an important part of India and an incredibly beautiful place.
Gor, who took a ‘shikara’ ride at the famous Dal Lake in Srinagar, also said that the US will reconsider the advisories on travel to Jammu and Kashmir as the central government and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah have taken steps to make it a safer place.
Hours after his remarks, Pakistan’s Foreign Office summoned the US Chargé d’Affaires in Islamabad and lodged a “strong demarche” over the comments made by Gor, who is also the Trump administration’s Special Envoy to South and Central Asia.
“Pakistan strongly condemned and categorically rejected the characterisation of Jammu and Kashmir as a ‘part of India’,” the Foreign Office said in a statement.
“It was underscored that Jammu and Kashmir is an internationally recognised disputed territory, awaiting final disposition in accordance with the relevant UNSC resolutions and the aspirations of the Kashmiri people,” the statement added.
It was further highlighted that the “irresponsible statement” by the US ambassador “negated the long-standing and well-documented position of the United States on the Jammu and Kashmir dispute, and also ran contrary to the US commitment to the supremacy of international law and the UN Charter,” it said.
While appreciating President Donald Trump’s offer to mediate between India and Pakistan to resolve the Kashmir issue in the aftermath of the four-day conflict in May last year, the US side “was urged to ensure that its public statements remain consistent with the disputed status of Jammu and Kashmir,” the statement added. ( PTI )
