In 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.

HINTS AT DOWNGRADING J&K TRAVEL ADVISORY

The US envoy, known to be close to US President Donald Trump, also asserted that the US would reconsider downgrading its highest-level travel warning for J&K. Presently, the US has a Level 4 “do not travel” advisory for J&K due to terrorism concerns.

Gor’s remark is significant in this context. “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.

Hours before Gor’s visit, former chief minister and PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti appealed to him to review and withdraw America’s strict travel advisory, highlighting how thousands of families in the Valley depend on tourism for livelihood.

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

WHAT HAPPENED DURING GOR-OMAR ABDULLAH MEET?

The US envoy, widely credited for the turnaround in US-India ties following last year’s strain, also held bilateral talks with Abdullah. 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.

Abdullah, on his part, said the discussions centred on deepening engagement with the US on tourism, horticulture and the new economy

“It was a very good meeting… There are obviously certain legacy issues that over time we will be working to resolve. We are hopeful that the engagement between the US and J&K will both widen and deepen in the years ahead,” the Chief Minister underscored.

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 clashes 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.

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.

The Chief Minister said it was not his habit to complain about the country’s problems to the envoy of another country. “Our problems are not his concern,” Abdullah said.