New Delhi. Amid the ongoing diplomatic tussle between India and Pakistan over Jammu and Kashmir (J&K), Pakistan has expressed strong objection to a statement by the US Ambassador. After US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor's visit to Kashmir and declaring Jammu and Kashmir as a part of India, Pakistan's Foreign Ministry summoned the American diplomat and lodged its protest.
What did the American Ambassador say in Srinagar?
US Ambassador Sergio Gore recently visited Jammu and Kashmir. In Srinagar he said that Jammu and Kashmir is a part of India. He also talked about encouraging the travel of American citizens to the region and expressed the possibility of reviewing the American travel advisory regarding Kashmir.
This statement of the American Ambassador was distasteful to Pakistan. Islamabad termed this as contrary to its traditional stand on Kashmir and immediately lodged a diplomatic objection.
American diplomat summoned
Pakistan's Foreign Ministry summoned a senior diplomat from the US Embassy in Islamabad. Pakistani officials lodged a formal protest over the US Ambassador's statement and submitted their demarche to him.
Pakistan says that the issue of Jammu and Kashmir is a disputed subject from its point of view and it should be resolved through UN Security Council resolutions and negotiations between the parties concerned.
Islamabad described the US Ambassador's statement as contrary to its previous stand and expected the US to avoid such statements in future.
Trump's mediation also mentioned
Interestingly, along with registering protest against America, Pakistan also cited the old stance of US President Donald Trump. Pakistan welcomed Trump's earlier offer of mediation to reduce tension between India and Pakistan.
That is, on one hand Islamabad is objecting to the statement of the American Ambassador, while on the other hand it is looking positively at the possibility of the US President's mediation on the Kashmir issue.
Why is this statement important for India?
The US Ambassador's statement on Kashmir is being considered important because America has been talking about resolving the dispute between India and Pakistan through bilateral talks for a long time. In such a situation, the presence of the American Ambassador in Srinagar and his calling Jammu and Kashmir a part of India is going to create an uncomfortable situation for Pakistan.
India has been continuously making it clear that Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of it and talks with Pakistan on any issue should be on bilateral basis.
Pakistan's diplomatic challenge increased
Pakistan's protest has once again exposed the different diplomatic stances of the two countries on the Kashmir issue. While Islamabad has been trying to present it as an international dispute, New Delhi considers it an internal and sovereign matter of India.
The US Ambassador's visit to Srinagar and the statement given there has emerged as a new challenge for Pakistan amid this diplomatic tussle.