US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor ignited a diplomatic controversy on Wednesday after describing Jammu and Kashmir as an “important part of India,” a statement that drew an immediate and sharp protest from Pakistan.
Speaking in Srinagar, the summer capital of Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir, Gor made the remarks after meeting with Chief Minister Omar Abdullah. He praised the region's beauty and expressed enthusiasm about deepening ties, saying, “Everybody here knows I’m the U.S. ambassador to India, and this is an important part of India. And so I’m here visiting for the first time. It is an incredibly beautiful place, and so I’m thrilled to be here.”
The ambassador also noted that follow-up discussions would be taken back to Washington and New Delhi, signaling a potential expansion of US engagement with the region.
Pakistan’s response was swift and forceful. The Foreign Ministry summoned US Charge d’Affaires Natalie Baker to Islamabad and handed her a formal diplomatic protest, calling Gor’s comments “factually incorrect” and “irresponsible.” The protest note asserted that Jammu and Kashmir is an internationally recognized disputed territory whose final status must be determined by UN Security Council resolutions and the wishes of the Kashmiri people.
Islamabad also accused Gor of contradicting the long-standing US position, which has traditionally urged India and Pakistan to resolve the dispute bilaterally. The note reminded Washington of President Donald Trump’s offer to mediate after the 2025 conflict—referred to as Marka-e-Haq—and urged the US to keep its public statements consistent with the region’s disputed status.
The incident comes amid a period of cautious rapprochement between Washington and Islamabad. Trump has taken credit for helping to de-escalate the 2025 India-Pakistan confrontation, and Pakistan has also played a key role in recent US-Iran negotiations, as diplomatic efforts intensify across multiple fronts.
Chief Minister Abdullah, for his part, framed the meeting with Gor as constructive, noting a “specific focus on what the U.S. can do with Jammu and Kashmir.” He acknowledged lingering “legacy issues” but expressed optimism about continuing the dialogue.
Analysts say Gor’s remarks could complicate US efforts to balance ties with both South Asian rivals, especially as Washington seeks to maintain leverage in a region already fraught with nuclear tensions. The dispute over Kashmir has triggered three wars between India and Pakistan, with the most recent conflict occurring in May 2025.
The US embassy in New Delhi has not yet issued an official statement on the controversy. However, the episode is likely to reverberate in Washington, where lawmakers and diplomats are watching how the Trump administration navigates its dual relationships in South Asia.
