Islamabad, Pakistan – Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned the top US diplomat in Islamabad on Wednesday, hours after US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor described Indian-administered Kashmir as “an important part of India” during his first visit to the territory.

Islamabad rejected the remark and reasserted Kashmir's status as disputed territory. Gor, who also serves as President Donald Trump's special envoy for South and Central Asia, made the comments publicly alongside Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, adding to Islamabad's irritation.

The Foreign Ministry issued a “strong demarche,” rejecting the characterization of Kashmir as “part of India” and reaffirming it as an internationally recognized disputed territory awaiting final disposition under UN Security Council resolutions. The statement called Gor's remarks factually incorrect and said they negated Washington's longstanding position on the dispute.

The episode comes at a delicate moment for Washington's ties with both South Asian rivals, as Pakistan courts the Trump administration more closely than it has in years, and as the US tries to balance that relationship against its strategic partnership with India. Analysts say the incident is unlikely to derail the broader US-Pakistan relationship, but it underscores the sensitivity of Kashmir rhetoric.

Former Pakistani foreign secretary Jauhar Saleem told Al Jazeera that Gor's remark should not be mistaken for a change in US policy, attributing it to “localitis” – a tendency for diplomats to please their hosts. He said Washington would likely issue a clarification soon, a view echoed by other former diplomats who noted that the US position on Kashmir remains unchanged.

Source: www.aljazeera.com