US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor, in his maiden visit to Ladakh, visited Thiksey Monastery and learnt about buddhism. The US ambassador and one of Donald Trump’s top envoys was accompanied by fellow diplomats. However, Gor’s expected meeting with the Dalai Lama was cancelled at the last minute.
According to reports, speculations are doing the rounds that his recent remarks on Kashmir may have compelled the Americans to maintain a low profile in Ladakh.
During his J&K visit, Sergio Gor described the Union Territory as “an important part of India”. Speaking to reporters alongside Chief Minister Omar Abdullah following their high-level dialogue, Gor remarked, “Kashmir is an important part of India. I am visiting the place for the first time. It is an incredibly beautiful place.”
Meanwhile, Sergio Gor was at the Thiksey Monastery for approximately 30 minutes during which he learnt about Buddhism from the monks.
Situated atop a hill in Thiksey, located in the Ladakh region of northern India, the site stands as the largest monastery in central Ladakh and is widely noted for its resemblance to the Potala Palace in Tibet.
Located 19 kilometres from Leh, the monastery was founded in 1433 and houses exquisite age-old images, stupas, scroll paintings and wall paintings, as well as a 15-metre-high (48 ft) statue of Maitreya Buddha installed in the 1980s.
Celebrated for its daily morning prayers, where visitors gather to experience the spiritual atmosphere, it also offers panoramic views of surrounding hill villages with the Indus River in the background.
Gor in Ladakh After High Profile Visit to Jammu and Kashmir
Sergio Gor arrived in Leh on Thursday following high-profile engagements across Jammu and Kashmir, marking a visit by a top US envoy to the strategic frontier region since the 2020 Galwan clashes and subsequent border standoff with China.
Prior to his arrival in Ladakh, Ambassador Gor completed wide-ranging engagements across the Kashmir Valley, including discussions with key regional stakeholders.
Reflecting on the outcome of their discussions, the top American diplomat expressed optimism regarding future bilateral ties, adding, “We had a very warm meeting and we look forward to building on our relationship.”
Significantly, the bilateral meeting marked the first interaction between a serving US ambassador and a sitting Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister in over 15 years, with the previous such meeting taking place in 2011 when then US envoy Timothy Roemer met Abdullah.
The engagement takes place against the backdrop of a deepening India-US strategic partnership, demonstrating strengthening bilateral ties following recent high-level interactions between Ambassador Gor and Union Home Minister Amit Shah focused on counter-terrorism cooperation.
With inputs from ANI