1 week ago
US Envoy Begins First Strategic Ladakh Visit Since Galwan
Sergio Gor, the US ambassador to India, visited Ladakh for two days.
Ladakh became a separate union territory in 2019.
The area is important because it borders China and Pakistan.
Indian and Chinese forces had a serious fight in the nearby Galwan Valley in 2020.
Twenty Indian soldiers died in that clash.
The United States supported India afterward and shared some military help, according to the reports.
Gor also said that Jammu and Kashmir is an important part of India, which upset Pakistan.
During his trip, he met Omar Abdullah and went river rafting, but it was unclear whether he would meet the Dalai Lama or another senior official in Ladakh.
US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor began a two-day visit to Ladakh, the first such senior US diplomatic visit since the region became a union territory in 2019 and the 2020 Galwan standoff.
Gor traveled from Srinagar to Leh and visited the Zanskar-Indus confluence at Nimmu, where he took part in river rafting.
The visit is closely watched because the United States supported India after the Galwan clashes, which killed 20 Indian soldiers, and provided intelligence and high-altitude equipment, according to the reports.
Gor called Jammu and Kashmir an important part of India, prompting Pakistan to summon the US chargé d’affaires and issue a strong demarche.
Gor met Chief Minister Omar Abdullah in Srinagar, while possible meetings with Ladakh Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena and the Dalai Lama remained unconfirmed.
- Who
- US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, and the governments of India, the United States, Pakistan, and China are involved.
- What
- Gor began a two-day Ladakh visit that included travel to Leh and river rafting at the Zanskar-Indus confluence.
- Where
- The visit covered Ladakh, including Leh and Nimmu, as well as Srinagar in Jammu and Kashmir.
- When
- The visit began on Thursday, after the 2020 India-China standoff and Ladakh’s creation as a union territory in 2019.
- Why
- The trip is being closely watched because of Ladakh’s sensitive borders and the US-India relationship following the Galwan clashes.
Indian and US Positions
Pakistani and Critical Views
Jammu and Kashmir’s status
Indian and US Positions
Gor described Jammu and Kashmir as an important part of India, reflecting India’s stated position.
Pakistani and Critical Views
Pakistan called the remarks factually incorrect and formally protested to the United States.
Who should address regional issues
Indian and US Positions
Omar Abdullah said India, not Washington, would decide issues facing Jammu and Kashmir and indicated that internal matters would not be discussed with Gor.
Pakistani and Critical Views
Pakistan objected to Gor’s characterization of Jammu and Kashmir, while PDP leader Mehbooba Mufti said the region’s problems must be addressed by New Delhi rather than America.
Nature of foreign diplomatic visits
Indian and US Positions
The reports presented Gor’s trip as an official visit involving meetings with senior officials and attention to the region.
Pakistani and Critical Views
Mehbooba Mufti criticized post-2019 foreign visits as curated, saying dignitaries met only the chief minister and governor rather than people from different sections of society.
Key facts
- Visiting diplomat
- Sergio Gor, US ambassador to India and US Special Envoy for South and Central Asia
- Visit duration
- Two days
- Route
- Gor traveled from Srinagar to Leh after his Kashmir trip
- Ladakh activity
- He visited the Zanskar-Indus confluence at Nimmu and rafted from Tsogti
- Galwan casualties
- Twenty Indian Army soldiers were killed in the June 2020 clashes
- US support for India
- The United States condemned attempts to change the Line of Actual Control status quo and provided intelligence and high-altitude equipment, according to the reports
- Pakistan response
- Pakistan summoned the US chargé d’affaires in Islamabad and lodged a strong demarche over Gor’s remarks on Jammu and Kashmir
Quotes
Mehbooba Mufti
Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir
“"Before 2019, whenever any Ambassador would come here, they would meet people from every section of society. After 2019, foreign dignitaries’ tours are curated."”
thestatesman.com
“"We had a very warm meeting, and we look forward to building on our relationship,"”
NDTV
Sources
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