Amb. Sardar Masood Khan (Former Diplomat):Remarks issued by US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor during his visit to Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir are not well-structured or well-thought. He might not have urge to issue such a statement during his meeting with in a meeting with chief minister Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir. I think that US ambassador might either not be fully briefed, or he may not be fully aware of cantours of US foreign policy or posture on issue of Jammu and Kashmir. US fully recognize Jammu and Kashmir as a disputed territory. Therefore, last year during Marka e Haq, US President Donald Trump said that India and Pakistan must resolve outstanding dispute of Jammu and Kashmir. Later Secretary of State Rubio also issued a similarly statement. So now why the US ambassador has issued a statement in contradiction to US position on the issue. Our foreign office has categorically explained Pakistan’s position on this issue that Jammu and Kashmir issue is an active and alive disputed issue on UNSC agenda. US is fully aware of the fact that future of Jammu and Kashmir has yet to be decided by the people as per UN resolutions. I think that we should not over-react to US envoy’s statement after issuance of strong demarche to US Charge d' Affaires by our foreign office. We should have conversation with US concerned quarters as we have good ties with US. Pakistani and US leaderships are constantly in contact with each other on regional and international issues. I recall that Ambassador Bloom visited AJK and GB and India issued negative statement but Pakistan has not criticized US ambassador’s visit to IIOJK.

 Amb. Haroon Shaukat (Former Diplomat): I think that Pakistan has emphatically turned down US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor statement and issued strong demarche to US Charge d' Affaires. I think that US recognizes IIOJK as disputed territory and has never recognized IIOJK as India territory. Even then Pakistan has have clearly explained status to US through strong demarche. Thus Pakistan has sent a loud and clear message to US as US ambassador’s statement which in contradiction of US policy. Actually, US ambassadors are political appointees and sometimes don’t have enough knowledge or information about the core disputes. Therefore, they issue statements to please the host countries. However, we have strongly sent required message to the US. Hopefully, our embassy in US will also take up this issue with US state department. However, we must not over react to this issue because Foreign Office has strongly rejected US ambassador’s statement.