Pakistan has summoned the top US envoy in Islamabad in protest at remarks made recently by an American ambassador to India regarding the status of the disputed Kashmir region.
In a statement on Wednesday, the Pakistani Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it had summoned the US chargé d’ affaires in Islamabad, Natalie Baker, and a “strong demarche was lodged over the factually incorrect remarks” by US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor.
Gor had told reporters that Kashmir is an “important part of India,” during a visit to Srinagar, a city within the Indian-administered part of the Himalayan region.
“Pakistan strongly condemned and categorically rejected the characterization of Jammu and Kashmir as a ‘part of India’,” Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry said.
“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.”
The ministry also noted that it had highlighted that the “irresponsible statement by the US Ambassador negated the long-standing and well-documented position” of the United States on the Kashmir dispute.
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Demarche on the Visit of the US Ambassador to India, Sergio Gor, to IIOJK, and Incorrect Statement regarding the Status of the Disputed Territory
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— Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) August 19, 2026
Kashmir has been split between India and Pakistan since their partition in 1947. Both countries claim all of Kashmir and have fought three wars over the mountainous territory.
The government of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi revoked the self-autonomy of Kashmir in 2019, in a move described by Pakistan as illegal. India’s Supreme Court upheld the move in December 2023.
