US to have a specialist on IHK

Srinagar, February 04 (KMS): In a significant development, the US Embassy in New Delhi is appointing a political specialist on occupied Kashmir to keep the envoys updated on developments in the region.

This is for the first time that the US Embassy is appointing an expert on Kashmir “who shall be fully conversant in the major issues affecting Indo-Pak relations and India’s policy in Kashmir.”

“The US Embassy in New Delhi is seeking an individual for the position of Political Specialist in the Political Section,” reads a notice (Vacancy Announcement) issued by the Embassy. “The appointee will be responsible for Internal Unit’s Kashmir account and will be recognized expert on this portfolio, and American officers shall be placing substantial reliance on his/her professional judgment and acumen in advising them on a variety of important and sensitive matters,” reads the notice.

The appointee will be responsible for canvassing Indian opinion on important events, affecting his portfolio, analyzing the information obtained and summarizing it to the American officers.

The embassy has invited that the applicant must be fully conversant in the major issues affecting Indo-Pak relations and India’s policy in Kashmir, and be able to provide the historical context, current developments and trends regarding “this portfolio” to both senior US and Indian audiences.

The appointee will be required to regularly brief Embassy staff and visiting (US) officials on complex events and trends in his portfolio, including assessing their political impact on the US interests. For any visiting officials from the US to Kashmir, the appointee will require to make logistical arrangements and accompany American officers and visiting officials on travel to occupied Kashmir.

It is worth mentioning that the US has always ruled out any kind of meditation between India and Pakistan on their all outstanding issues including Kashmir. However, Washington has maintained that it was ready to play the role of a facilitator in any kind of positive engagement between the two countries on Kashmir.