US Envoy Sergio Gor Calls J&K an ‘Important Part of India’; Pakistan Summons US Diplomat
US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor described Jammu and Kashmir as an “important part of India” during his first visit to Srinagar. Hours later, Pakistan summoned US Chargé d’Affaires Natalie Baker and lodged a strong protest.
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Srinagar/New Delhi, August 19, 2026: US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor made a significant statement on Jammu and Kashmir during his first visit to Srinagar, describing the Union Territory as an “important part of India.”
Speaking during a joint media briefing after meeting Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Gor said, “This is an important part of India,” while also praising the region’s beauty. His remarks came during a two-day visit covering Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.
Gor also indicated that Washington could review its travel advisory for Jammu and Kashmir, citing improving security conditions and steps taken by the Centre and the J&K administration.
The statement triggered an immediate diplomatic reaction from Islamabad. Pakistan summoned US Chargé d’Affaires Natalie Baker to its Foreign Ministry and lodged what it described as a “strong demarche” over Gor’s remarks. Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry rejected the description of Jammu and Kashmir as part of India and argued that it was inconsistent with what Islamabad considers the longstanding US position on the Kashmir issue.
The episode is notable because the remarks came directly from the US Ambassador to India while he was visiting Srinagar. For New Delhi, Gor’s public characterisation of Jammu and Kashmir as an important part of India comes amid continued international engagement with the region.
Pakistan’s unusually swift diplomatic response underlines how sensitive any international reference to Jammu and Kashmir remains for Islamabad.