Omar Abdullah says US-Pak row over Kashmir not his fight

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday declined to take sides in the diplomatic row between Pakistan and the United States over remarks by US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor. Speaking to reporters in Srinagar, Abdullah said the matter was between Islamabad and Washington and that neither he nor anyone else could do anything about it once the remarks had been made. He also refused to join the Congress in criticising any third-party intervention in the region.

Pakistan had summoned the US Charge d'Affaires in Islamabad on Wednesday and lodged a strong demarche over Gor's description of Jammu and Kashmir as "an important part of India" during his first visit to the Union Territory since the abrogation of Article 370. Pakistan's Foreign Ministry said it strongly condemned and rejected the characterisation, reiterating that the region is an internationally recognised disputed territory. The US envoy had earlier met Abdullah and said Washington would reconsider its travel advisories for the region.

Abdullah also spoke about upcoming development projects. He said work on the AIIMS in the region was progressing and one block should start OPD and basic treatments this year. He added that discussions on the location of a proposed law university were nearly complete, and one or two private universities were expected to start work in the coming weeks.