The ministry of external affairs on Thursday said India’s position on the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir being an integral part of the country is well-known, and New Delhi has raised its concerns with the US about their ambassador to Pakistan Donald Blome’s “secret” six-day visit to Gilgit-Baltistan, which is in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
Ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi, during the weekly press conference, said the international community must respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of India.
“We have raised the issue of the US ambassador’s visit to Gilgit-Baltistan. Our position on the entire union territory of Jammu and Kashmir being an integral part of India is well known. We would like to urge the international community to respect our sovereignty and territorial integrity… we have raised our concerns about that visit by the US Ambassador of Pakistan with the US side,” Bagchi said.
He added: “I don’t have anything particular as you said the video has just come out. I don’t know if our mission has taken it up but we convey our concerns on such things on regular basis whenever we see such developments.”
Blome recently visited Gilgit-Baltistan in PoK, during which he met local representatives and officials in different areas, as per a report published by the Dawn newspaper. The details of his visit have been kept secret by the US embassy and Pakistan government.
UK MP Andrew Gwynne had also recently visited PoK.
Bagchi was also asked about US ambassador to India Eric Garcetti’s remarks about the visit. “…And with regard to Garcetti’s comment, we don’t think the two situations are equivalent.” On September 26, Garcetti said Blome’s visit to Gilgit-Baltistan is a matter that should be “resolved between India and Pakistan, not by any third party including the US”.
“It’s not my place to react to the US Ambassador in Pakistan but I know he’s been there before and we have had obviously parts of our delegation in Jammu and Kashmir during the G20 as well,” he had said.
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