U.S. Ambassador Sergio Gor tours Ladakh, rivers and politics on first visit

After a discussion with Jammu & Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah in Srinagar, U.S. Ambassador to India Sergio Gor flew to Ladakh for a two-day tour, the first by a top U.S. envoy since the region was designated a Union Territory in 2019. He explored Leh and participated in a river-rafting expedition from Tsogti to the confluence of the Indus and Zanskar rivers at Sangam. His delegation attempted to arrange a meeting with Ladakh Lt-Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena, who was away in New Delhi, and rumors of a meeting with the Dalai Lama remained unverified.

The 91-year-old spiritual leader has been recuperating in Ladakh after knee surgery in New Delhi. Gor also serves as President Donald Trump’s special envoy for South and Central Asia, and his itinerary along the China-bordered territories is being read as a diplomatic signal. His earlier comment that Kashmir is an integral part of India prompted Pakistan to summon the U.S. charge d’affaires and issue a strong protest.