Srinagar, Aug 19, KDC: US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor on Wednesday said the US travel advisory for Jammu and Kashmir should be reviewed and downgraded, while describing the region as an “important part of India” and praising the security measures taken by New Delhi and the J&K government.
Speaking after meeting Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah in Srinagar during his first visit to the Valley, Gor, according to news agency Kashmir Dot Com, described the meeting as “very good” and said there would be follow-up discussions in Washington and New Delhi.
“It’s a pleasure to be here. This is an important part of India. I am here, visiting for the first time. It is an incredibly beautiful place. I am thrilled to be here, thrilled to see this place,” Gor said.
“We just had a very good meeting. We have some follow-ups, so we hope to take back to Washington, back to Delhi. But a very warm, a very cordial and we look forward to building this relationship forward,” he added.
On the US travel advisory, Gor said it should be reviewed and downgraded, citing the improving security situation.
“We will see about the advisory and it should be downgraded,” he said.
Calling Jammu and Kashmir a “beautiful area”, Gor said many Americans would like to visit and experience its natural beauty.
“It’s a beautiful area, a lot of Americans would like to come here, see the beauty,” he said.
The envoy also praised the security measures taken by the Centre and the J&K government.
“New Delhi, CM here, government here, we believe have made incredible steps to keep this area safe,” Gor said.
“I cannot make big announcements today,” he added, while noting that the authorities had made the region “safer and more safer.”
Gor’s remarks assume significance amid heightened regional developments, including the deteriorating situation in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, and could have implications for Jammu and Kashmir’s international tourism prospects.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah described his meeting with the US envoy as “very good”, saying discussions covered India-US relations and areas where the United States could contribute to Jammu and Kashmir.
“It was a very good meeting. We discussed relations between the two countries and what the US can do for us,” Abdullah said.
The Chief Minister said the discussions also touched upon “legacy issues” that continue to require attention.
“We have legacy issues which we will be talking to resolve,” Abdullah said.
Expressing optimism about future engagement, Abdullah added, “We are hopeful and optimistic that the relationship between J&K and the US will go up.”
He said he looked forward to taking the conversation further. (KDC)
