US ambassador Sergio Gor in Leh SRINAGAR: A day after meeting Jammu & Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah in Srinagar, US Ambassador to India, Sergio Gor, arrived in Ladakh Thursday on his maiden visit to the Union Territory, where he went sightseeing and rafting. There were also reports that he was likely to meet the Dalai Lama, who is currently in Ladakh, during his two-day trip, but there was no confirmation about this from anyone.Shortly after landing, Gor went sightseeing in Leh and later participated in river rafting, covering several kilometres from Tsogti to Sangam, the confluence of Indus and Zanskar rivers.Officials said the US envoy’s team had approached for a meeting with Ladakh Lt-governor Vinai Kumar Saxena, but he was in New Delhi.They also said they had no idea whether Gor was meeting the Dalai Lama on Friday morning. The 91-year-old Tibetan spiritual leader has been recuperating in Ladakh since June 28 following a medical procedure on his left knee in New Delhi.This is the first visit by a top US diplomat to Ladakh since it was carved out as a UT from the former state of J&K in Aug 2019, and the Galwan clash between Indian and Chinese troops in June 2020 that led to a prolonged military standoff between the two countries in the region.Gor is also US President Donald Trump’s special envoy for South and Central Asia, and his visit to the two UTs bordering China and Pakistan is being seen as a message to the two countries.In Srinagar, Gor’s remark describing Kashmir as an important part of India drew a sharp reaction from Pakistan, which summoned the US embassy’s charge d’affaires in Islamabad and lodged a “strong demarche” over what it termed a “factually incorrect statement”. Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesHe also talked of US considering reviewing its security advisory for J&K.Asked about Pakistan’s reaction to Gor’s remarks, the J&K CM Thursday said: “This is a matter between Pakistan and America. Neither you nor I can do anything about it.”On Congress’s criticism that there was no need to hear from the US that Kashmir was an important part of India, Omar said, “They have a point of view and they are entitled to it. I am not going to get into a war of words over this.”Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideos‘NEET, Delimitation, Cauvery, Drugs’: Vijay’s Key Requests Before Amit Shah At Tamil Nadu MeetingPolicy Shift Or Just Words? Inside US Envoy Gor’s ‘Kashmir’ Remark That Rattled PakistanJharkhand High Court Stays Soren Govt’s Order To Cancel JPSC Exams, AppointmentsKangana Vs Ramdev: BJP MP Fires Back After Yoga Guru Questions Her Past And Controversial Remarks’Not Mahatma Gandhi’s Congress’: FULL Vande Mataram Rejected At INC Events, BJP Doubts ‘Loyalty’US Body Opposes Mohan Bhagwat’s Visit, Seeks Sanctions on RSS Members Over Religious Freedom ClaimsDJB Tender Scam Row: AAP Questions Why Raghav Chadha Was Never Questioned By InvestigatorsMaharashtra’s Power Shift: Fadnavis Can Now Reverse Ministerial Decisions In Public InterestIndia Removes Pakistan Mission Barricades After Islamabad Move, Tensions Rise Over Kashmir RemarksModi Govt’s Gen-Z Outreach: One Union Minister To Visit One University Daily123PhotostoriesHow to look expensive without spending a lot of moneyFrom money plants to shankh: 5 Vastu items believed to bring good luck and positivity at homeHow much walking can reverse the health risks of sitting for 8 hours a day? Doctor explains what your body needsWhy does homemade curd turn slimy during monsoon and 3 ways to prevent itThe history of the white shirt: How a simple staple became the ultimate fashion icon10 enchanting baby girl names inspired by fantasy, mythology and folkloreSugar price hike by Rs 8 per kg: 9 natural Indian sweeteners and how to use themOptical illusion personality test: The first thing you spot reveals what’s coming next in your lifeIs apple cider vinegar good for your hair? Benefits, side effects, and the right way to use it10 One Piece characters who have lived for more than a 100 years123Hot PicksPeru EarthquakeConnor McDavidGTU results 2026Pennsylvania plane crashOil export IndiaFaceless assessmentRSS sanctionZepto internshipPakistan High CommissionTop TrendingHyderabad MurderPakistan High CommissionTwisha SharmaKarnataka MurderKerala MurderAbhijeet DipkeSukesh ChandrashekharRahul GandhiBengaluru RapidoBen Gvir
SRINAGAR: A day after meeting Jammu & Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah in Srinagar, US Ambassador to India, Sergio Gor, arrived in Ladakh Thursday on his maiden visit to the Union Territory, where he went sightseeing and rafting. There were also reports that he was likely to meet the Dalai Lama, who is currently in Ladakh, during his two-day trip, but there was no confirmation about this from anyone.Shortly after landing, Gor went sightseeing in Leh and later participated in river rafting, covering several kilometres from Tsogti to Sangam, the confluence of Indus and Zanskar rivers.Officials said the US envoy’s team had approached for a meeting with Ladakh Lt-governor Vinai Kumar Saxena, but he was in New Delhi.They also said they had no idea whether Gor was meeting the Dalai Lama on Friday morning. The 91-year-old Tibetan spiritual leader has been recuperating in Ladakh since June 28 following a medical procedure on his left knee in New Delhi.This is the first visit by a top US diplomat to Ladakh since it was carved out as a UT from the former state of J&K in Aug 2019, and the Galwan clash between Indian and Chinese troops in June 2020 that led to a prolonged military standoff between the two countries in the region.Gor is also US President Donald Trump’s special envoy for South and Central Asia, and his visit to the two UTs bordering China and Pakistan is being seen as a message to the two countries.In Srinagar, Gor’s remark describing Kashmir as an important part of India drew a sharp reaction from Pakistan, which summoned the US embassy’s charge d’affaires in Islamabad and lodged a “strong demarche” over what it termed a “factually incorrect statement”.
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He also talked of US considering reviewing its security advisory for J&K.Asked about Pakistan’s reaction to Gor’s remarks, the J&K CM Thursday said: “This is a matter between Pakistan and America. Neither you nor I can do anything about it.”On Congress’s criticism that there was no need to hear from the US that Kashmir was an important part of India, Omar said, “They have a point of view and they are entitled to it. I am not going to get into a war of words over this.”
