J&K: US diplomats call on Omar, ex-CM calls for relook on travel advisories

Though American diplomats, including Mayer, had met L-G Manoj Sinha last August, and some J&K political leaders and activists attended an iftar party hosted by the US embassy in Delhi earlier this year, Monday’s meeting was perhaps a first with a political leader in the Valley itself since Article 370 was revoked in August 2019 and the erstwhile state subsequently split and downgraded to a Union Territory.

For foreign diplomats, visiting J&K requires special permission from the Indian government, and these approvals are granted through the Ministry of External Affairs. The Ministries of Home affairs and External Affairs usually coordinate with the intelligence agencies and the state government before allowing foreign diplomats to travel to J&K.

“Discussions covered a wide range of issues pertaining to Jammu and Kashmir and the region in general,” the NC said, adding that the meeting was also attended by party MP Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi and chief spokesperson and head of communications Tanvir Sadiq.

During the meeting, Abdullah emphasised the importance of relooking at the travel advisories for J&K with a view to ease restrictions, the party said. “He encouraged people from around the world to visit Kashmir and experience its beauty and culture firsthand. He also invited the diplomats to visit Kashmir with their families as a first step to inspire confidence among tourists from the US and other parts of the world,” it said.

Last year, diplomats from G20 countries including the US had visited Srinagar for the G20 tourism group’s meeting.

In its latest travel advisory issued in July this year, the US government had asked its citizens to exercise increased caution in India due to crime and terrorism. “Some areas have increased risk. Do not travel to the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir (except the eastern Ladakh region and its capital Leh) due to terrorism and civil unrest,” the advisory had said.