The Foreign Office on Wednesday summoned the U.S. charge d’affaires in Islamabad and lodged a “strong demarche” over “factually incorrect remarks” by the U.S. ambassador to India regarding the disputed status of Jammu and Kashmir.
United States Ambassador to India Sergio Gor visited India-held Kashmir earlier in the day, describing it “an important part of India,” despite Kashmir remaining internationally recognized disputed territory under international law.
“Pakistan strongly condemned and categorically rejected the characterization of Jammu and Kashmir as a ‘part of India’,” read a statement issued by the Foreign Office. “It was underscored that Jammu and Kashmir is an internationally recognized disputed territory, awaiting final disposition in accordance with the relevant UNSC resolutions and the aspirations of the Kashmiri people,” it said.
The Foreign Office said it was also highlighted that the “irresponsible statement” by the U.S. ambassador “negated the longstanding and well-documented position of the United States on the Jammu and Kashmir dispute, and also ran contrary to the U.S. commitment to the supremacy of international law and the U.N. Charter,” it said.
Pakistan appreciated U.S. President Donald Trump’s offer to mediate between Pakistan and India to resolve the Kashmir dispute in the aftermath of Marka-e-Haq, noted the statement. However, the U.S. side was urged to ensure that its public statements remained consistent with the disputed status of Jammu and Kashmir, it added.
Last year in June, Trump had offered to help mediate the Kashmir dispute between India and Pakistan, stressing he could solve the issue between the two nuclear-armed nations.