Pakistan issues demarche to US over its India envoy's remarks over Kashmir

Pakistan on Wednesday summoned the US Charge d’Affaires in Islamabad and lodged a strong demarche over what it called “factually incorrect” remarks by US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor regarding the status of Jammu and Kashmir.

According to the Foreign Office, the US diplomat was summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs over the remarks made during Gor’s visit to Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).

Pakistan “strongly condemned and categorically rejected” the characterisation of Jammu and Kashmir as a “part of India,” underscoring that the territory is an internationally recognized disputed territory awaiting final settlement in accordance with relevant UN Security Council resolutions and the aspirations of the Kashmiri people.

The Foreign Office said the US ambassador’s statement negated the longstanding and well-documented position of the United States on the Jammu and Kashmir dispute and was contrary to Washington’s commitment to international law and the UN Charter.

While appreciating US President Donald Trump’s offer to mediate between Pakistan and India to resolve the Jammu and Kashmir dispute in the aftermath of Marka-e-Haq, Pakistan urged the US side to ensure that its public statements remained consistent with the disputed status of Jammu and Kashmir.

The demarche was conveyed to the US Charge d’Affaires in Islamabad on Wednesday.