Examiner Bureau | Srinagar:
US Ambassador to India and Special Envoy for South and Central Asian Affairs Sergio Gor is scheduled to visit the Kashmir Valley on Wednesday, marking his first official visit to Jammu and Kashmir, officials said.
During his visit to Srinagar, Gor is expected to hold separate meetings with Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah. Officials said the US envoy is also likely to stay overnight at a hotel in Srinagar.
A senior police officer, speaking on condition of anonymity, said security and other arrangements for the visit were being put in place. A delegation associated with Gor has already arrived in Srinagar ahead of his scheduled programme.
The visit comes amid expanding India-US engagement on security and strategic issues, with counterterrorism and regional stability remaining important areas of bilateral cooperation. Gor recently met Union Home Minister Amit Shah, with discussions reportedly covering cooperation in areas including counterterrorism and counter-narcotics.
Given Gor’s wider responsibilities for South and Central Asia, his visit to Jammu and Kashmir is expected to be viewed against the broader backdrop of regional security and stability. His proposed meetings with the Union Territory’s constitutional and elected leadership could include discussions on security-related issues and the wider India-US strategic partnership.
Although the envoy’s detailed itinerary and official agenda have not been made public, tourism, economic development and the overall situation in Jammu and Kashmir could also feature in his discussions during the visit.
Gor had earlier visited India’s Western Command alongside US Indo-Pacific Commander Admiral Samuel Paparo, during which security issues concerning Jammu and Kashmir and India’s western frontier were among the matters discussed, according to officials.
The Kashmir visit is therefore expected to attract considerable attention, particularly as Washington continues to engage with New Delhi on issues concerning regional security, counterterrorism and strategic cooperation across South and Central Asia.
