U.S envoy visits PoK; Refers to it as 'Azad Jammu & Kashmir'

US Ambassador to Pakistan Donald Blome visited Muzaffarabad in Pakistan-administered Kashmir on October 4. A tweet has been made from the official Twitter handle of the US Embassy in Pakistan regarding this meeting, in which Pakistan-administered Kashmir has been written as Azad Jammu and Kashmir.

It is being said that till now the US used to call Pakistan-controlled Kashmir, but suddenly it has called it Azad Jammu and Kashmir.

The US Embassy wrote in its tweet, "Ambassador Blome welcomes members of the Pakistan US Alumnae to the Muzaffarabad meeting. It is the largest American alumnae program in the world. There are 950 members of the Pakistan-US Almanai Network in Azad Jammu and Kashmir. We are proud of this alumnae's passion. They are playing an important role in strengthening US-Pakistan relations.

Key points:

• US Ambassador to Pakistan calls Pakistan-administered Kashmir Azad Jammu and Kashmir
• Till now America used to call Pakistan-administered Kashmir
• Since the arrival of Shahbaz Sharif, the relationship with America seems to be increasing.
• It is not yet clear whether America's stand on Kashmir has changed or the ambassador simply called Azad Jammu and Kashmir.

What are the meanings?

Abdul Basit, who was Pakistan's ambassador to India, said in his video blog on Tuesday, "It is interesting that Donald Blome has called Azad Jammu and Kashmir as Azad-Jammu Kashmir. Indian media is angry that first Blome visited Pakistan Occupied Kashmir and again called it Azad Jammu and Kashmir.

Abdul Basit says, "People of India are angry why Donald Blome didn't say Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. I think the statement of the Ministry of External Affairs of India will also come on this. But it is a matter for us to think that why did the US Ambassador use the term Azad Jammu and Kashmir? Generally, America has been officially calling Pakistan-administered Kashmir. He also calls Kashmir under Indian control India-administered Kashmir. I think that America's calling of Jammu and Kashmir is a kind of change in its policy. I think America is interested in what is happening in this area right now.

According to Abdul Basit, "The global situation is changing. America's perhaps wish is that relations with Pakistan should be back on track. Or America should also take Pakistan along in countering the rise of China. If seen from this quote, America is in favor of a status quo solution in the case of Kashmir. Former President Pervez Musharraf also proposed making the Line of Control as a temporary international border. Then review after 10-15 years and move towards a permanent solution. Talks were also held with India regarding this proposal, but no result came out.

Abdul Basit says, "It has to be seen whether there is a big game behind what Donald Blome has said about free Jammu and Kashmir, or just said it."

Kanwal Sibal strongly objected

Kanwal Sibal, who was the Foreign Secretary in Atal Bihari Vajpayee's government, in a tweet by the US ambassador, has strongly objected to Pakistan-administered Kashmir being called Azad Jammu and Kashmir.

Kanwal Sibal, retweeting the tweet of the US ambassador, wrote, "India has always been saying that Pakistan-occupied Kashmir is the territory of India. We opposed the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor because it violates our sovereignty. America is aware of this but it is calling it Azad Jammu and Kashmir. Is the US ambassador not fully aware of the matter or has he been told that the US will no longer consider it a disputed area?

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