Our matters won’t be solved in Washington: Omar before meeting US envoy

Ahead of a scheduled visit by US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor to Srinagar on Wednesday, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah expressed his readiness to discuss the situation in J&K but emphasized that his state's problems are not under the purview of the ambassador. Abdullah stated that it would be inappropriate for him to lodge complaints with the ambassador of another country, asserting that the issues would be addressed by the government of their own nation.

The Chief Minister noted that a US ambassador's visit to J&K is an infrequent occurrence, with the last one taking place in January 2020. During this earlier visit, a delegation from the US along with envoys from 14 other countries had been present in Srinagar and Jammu following the constitutional changes in J&K. However, Abdullah's assertion that the J&K government is not responsible for resolving national issues, and should not be held accountable for corruption allegations, sparked controversy.

BJP state unit organized a protest in opposition to the government, alleging corruption under Abdullah's administration. The Chief Minister dismissed these accusations, stating that the J&K government is not capable of investigating such matters. Former Chief Minister and PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti warned that the US ambassador's travel advisory could be detrimental to the tourism industry in Kashmir, a sector crucial for the livelihoods of thousands of families.

She urged Gor to reconsider and lift the advisory, which she argued would have a positive impact on the region's international relations and the economy.