AJK President Condemns US Ambassador’s Remarks on Jammu & Kashmir

ISLAMABAD: President Azad Jammu and Kashmir Chaudhry Latif Akbar has strongly condemned and expressed deep regret over remarks reportedly made by US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor during his visit to Srinagar, in which he described Jammu & Kashmir as an “integral part” of India.

Chaudhry Latif Akbar said the remarks disregard the political and historical aspirations of the Kashmiri people and are contrary to the internationally recognised disputed status of Jammu & Kashmir and relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions.

He emphasised that administrative control exercised by any country over part of a disputed territory does not determine or alter its final legal and political status. He noted that the Kashmir dispute has remained on the UN Security Council’s agenda for decades, with resolutions recognising the right of the people of Jammu & Kashmir to determine their future through a free and impartial process.

The AJK president said the United States has itself recognised Kashmir as a dispute on various occasions and supported dialogue and a peaceful resolution. He termed it disappointing for a US diplomatic representative to endorse the position of one party while visiting Srinagar, saying such remarks raise questions about Washington’s commitment to an impartial and constructive role.

Chaudhry Latif Akbar stressed that Kashmir cannot be treated as an internal matter of India and that no lasting solution can be achieved by excluding the Kashmiri people, whom he described as a principal party to the dispute. He urged the United States and the international community to uphold international law, relevant UN resolutions and the Kashmiri people’s right to self-determination.

He further called for international pressure on India to address alleged human rights violations in occupied Jammu & Kashmir, release political prisoners and create conditions conducive to a peaceful resolution.

“The disputed status of Jammu & Kashmir cannot be changed by any diplomatic statement. The future of Kashmir cannot be decided by India or Pakistan alone; it must ultimately be determined by the Kashmiri people through the exercise of their fundamental right to self-determination,” he said.

The AJK president reiterated that the final status of Jammu & Kashmir should not be determined through force, occupation or unilateral measures, but through the free will of the Kashmiri people in accordance with internationally recognised principles.