Srinagar, Aug 19: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday said he was “very hopeful and optimistic” that engagement between the United States and Jammu and Kashmir would widen and deepen in the years ahead.

Speaking to reporters after meeting US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor, Omar said the discussions focused on India-US relations, with particular emphasis on what the United States could do for Jammu and Kashmir.
“It was, as Ambassador Gor has said, a very good meeting. We had an opportunity to discuss the relations between our two countries, but with specific focus on what the U.S. can do with Jammu and Kashmir,” Omar said.
He said there were certain “legacy issues” that would be addressed over time, while expressing willingness to continue the conversation.
“There are obviously certain legacy issues that over time we will be working to resolve, but we look forward to taking this conversation further,” he said.
Omar said the engagement would involve discussions between the US envoy and Washington, as well as between him and the Government of India in New Delhi.
“This is a conversation that will take place both between Ambassador Gor and Washington and between me and the Government of India in New Delhi,” he said.
“We are very hopeful and optimistic that the engagement between the United States of America and Jammu and Kashmir will both widen and deepen in the years ahead,” Omar added.
Omar expressed optimism about stronger engagement between the J&K and the United States following his meeting with the US Ambassador.
The meeting assumed significance as it was the first known interaction between a serving US ambassador and a sitting chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir in more than 15 years.