Srinagar, Aug 20: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday said Pakistan’s decision to summon the US Charge d’Affaires over Ambassador Sergio Gor’s remarks on Jammu and Kashmir was an issue between the two countries.
“This is a matter between Pakistan and America. Neither you nor I can do anything about it. The American Ambassador said what he said. Now it is between the two countries,” Omar told reporters.
Gor, who is also US President Donald Trump’s special envoy for South and Central Asian affairs, made the remarks during his first visit to Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday. He met Omar in Srinagar on the first day of his two-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.
Following Gor’s comments that Jammu and Kashmir “is an important part of India”, Pakistan summoned the US Charge d’Affaires in Islamabad and lodged a “strong demarche”, describing the ambassador’s remarks as “factually incorrect”.
After his meeting with Omar, Gor had described the interaction as “very good” and “very cordial”, saying he looked forward to further strengthening relations.
Asked about Congress questioning why India needed a US envoy to state that Jammu and Kashmir was an important part of the country and that there was no need for third-party intervention, Omar said the opposition party was entitled to its position.
“Congress has a point of view. They are the largest opposition party. They have a point of view. They are entitled to it,” he said.
Omar said he did not want to enter into a war of words over the issue, adding, “I am not going to get into this.”
