Babus, mantris & buzz: Islamabad rattled after US envoy reaffirms India's position on Jammu & Kashmir

Islamabad rattled after US envoy reaffirms India's position on Jammu & Kashmir

The corridors of power in Islamabad have been thrown into disarray following remarks made by US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor during his maiden visit to Srinagar. By explicitly describing Jammu and Kashmir as an "important part of India" and indicating that Washington will reconsider its long-standing "Do Not Travel" advisory for the region, Gor delivered a significant diplomatic blow to Pakistan's strategic messaging.

In an immediate damage-control effort, Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned the US charge d'affaires to lodge a formal demarche, describing the statement as irresponsible and contrary to UN resolutions. However, the immediate outrage masks deeper concerns within Pakistan's political and military establishment. For decades, Islamabad has relied on Washington maintaining strategic ambiguity over Kashmir. Gor’s endorsement of New Delhi’s governance, coupled with his role as US Special Envoy for South Asia, signals a significant shift in American foreign policy. Unsettled by the prospect of losing Western diplomatic leverage, Pakistani officials now face the reality that Washington is strengthening its strategic partnership with India, leaving Islamabad increasingly isolated on the international stage.

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