Leh, Aug 20: US Ambassador to India and Special Envoy for South and Central Asian Affairs Sergio Gor arrived in Leh on Thursday, shortly after flying from Srinagar, officials said.
Gor landed at Leh airport and was escorted by a security convoy as he proceeded into the city, marking the Ladakh leg of his ongoing visit to Jammu and Kashmir and the Union Territory of Ladakh.
The visit is Gor’s first official trip to Ladakh since assuming office and comes a day after his meeting with Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah in Srinagar.
During his Srinagar visit, Gor described Jammu and Kashmir as an “important part of India” and said the United States would review its travel advisory for the Union Territory, citing improvements in the security situation.
His arrival in Leh is significant given Ladakh’s strategic location and proximity to the Line of Actual Control with China. The region has remained under close attention since the India-China military standoff in eastern Ladakh.
Gor is expected to meet officials and interact with other stakeholders during his stay in Ladakh. However, the details of his itinerary and engagements in Leh have not yet been officially disclosed.
The visit is being closely watched amid broader discussions on regional security, connectivity, economic cooperation and India-US relations.
Security arrangements have been strengthened around the visiting US envoy, with a substantial deployment accompanying him following his arrival in Leh.