SRINAGAR: US ambassador to India, Sergio Gor, is scheduled to arrive in Jammu & Kashmir on Wednesday for his first visit to the union territory.Gor, the 27th US ambassador to India who also serves as his country’s special envoy for South and Central Asia, is likely to meet lieutenant governor Manoj Sinha and CM Omar Abdullah.NC spokesperson and legislator Tanvir Sadiq said Gor would be meeting Omar at his Gupkar residence Wednesday afternoon.Gor will leave for Ladakh on Thursday. However, it is not clear whether he is meeting Ladakh LG Vinai Kumar Saxena, who is in New Delhi and will be returning to Leh only on Aug 22.
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Though US diplomats have often visited Kashmir over the past few years, Gor’s visit is seen as significant in the Valley given his profile.Former minister and PDP spokesperson Naeem Akhtar said, “Given that Gor is also the special envoy to South and Central Asia, the visit assumes some significance. Especially in the context of Trump’s wholesome endorsement of recent Pak-Saudi-Turkey defence pact.”In 2024, a delegation of US diplomats had met Omar Abdullah, then vice-president of the National Conference, at his residence. The delegation had also met Peoples Conference‘s Sajjad Lone, NC MP Aga Ruhullah Mehdi and BJP‘s Hina Bhat.Following the abrogation of Article 370 in Aug 2019, the govt had invited and escorted foreign diplomats on visits to Kashmir.
