MEA slams US envoy’s go to to Gilgit Baltistan, says US ought to respect India’s sovereignty

The authorities of India has conveyed its considerations to Washington DC after the US ambassador to Pakistan not too long ago visited Indan territories underneath unlawful occupation of Pakistan. As per reviews, US Ambassador to Pakistan Donald Armin Blome had not too long ago visited Gilgit and Baltistan.

“I think our position on the status of the entire Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir being an integral part of India is well known. We would urge the international community to respect our sovereignty and territorial integrity. We have raised our concerns about that visit by the US Ambassador to Pakistan with the US side,” said Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Arindam Bagchi in his weekly press briefing.

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) tasks and quite a few leisure areas have been a part of the US envoy’s tour who additionally met with Rani Sanam Faryad and Sadia Danish, the deputy speaker and vice speaker, respectively of the Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly.

The US consultant has beforehand traveled to Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and met with Sardar Tanveer Ilyas Khan then Prime Minister appointed by Pakistan in Muzaffarabad in October 2022. He laid a wreath within the reminiscence of the victims of the 2005 earthquake and expressed, “During the 75 years of our partnership, the United States has always stood by Pakistan, particularly when it’s needed most.”

When questioned in regards to the aforementioned difficulty, the US ambassador to India Eric Michael Garcetti drew a false equivalence and in contrast the American delegation’s journey to Kashmir for the G20 summit to David Blome’s journey to Gilgit-Baltistan in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. “Regarding Ambassador Garcetti’s remarks, we do not believe it questions our position. We don’t think the two situations are equal,” the MEA spokesperson responded.

“It is not my place to react. The US ambassador has visited there before. You have our delegation visiting Kashmir for the G20 as well,” the US ambassador alleged whereas chatting with the media at an occasion which was organised by the Indo-American Chamber of Commerce on 26 September. He emphasised that the Kashmir dispute is a bilateral downside between India and Pakistan and must be resolved by each nations whereas reaffirming the US opinion on the matter. “This is an issue that must be resolved between India and Pakistan and not by a third party, including the US.”

The US ambassador to Pakistan went to Gilgit and Hunza valleys within the third week of September. Interestingly, it was objected to by the opposition leaders within the nation. His go to was meant to “explore opportunities for strengthening the region’s climate resilience,” in accordance with the American embassy in Islamabad. Jonathan Lalley, a spokeswoman for the embassy reported that Pakistan was probably the most susceptible nations with regard to local weather change.

The Gilgit Baltistan authorities was unaware of the six-day go to, per leaders of opposition events who additional claimed that “the mysterious activities” of the US ambassador within the space had prompted considerations.