The post shows the entire Jammu and Kashmir region including PoK as part of India. It also depicts Aksai Chin, which China claims, within India’s borders.
Pakistan said it contacted US authorities after the US Trade Representative’s office shared a map with India showing the entire Jammu and Kashmir region, including Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and Aksai Chin, an area claimed by China. The map differed from earlier versions issued by Washington that took Pakistan’s concerns into account, but was removed four days later.
This image coincided with New Delhi’s longstanding position on its territorial claims. (file image)The image shows the entire Jammu and Kashmir region, including PoK, as part of India. It also depicts Aksai Chin, which China claims, within India’s borders. This image coincided with New Delhi’s longstanding position on its territorial claims.
The post, shared by USTR’s X handle on Saturday, has now been deleted.Also Read | In the Indo-US trade agreement, a map shows the territory occupied by Pakistan, ChinaPakistan said it had reached out to the US with the mapEmbarrassed by the post, Pakistan’s foreign ministry said Islamabad had raised the matter with US officials. It called the map “illegitimate” and said it “notes with satisfaction” that Washington has “made the necessary corrections to highlight the legal UN-approved map of our territory.”
During a press briefing, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Tahir Andrabi told reporters that Pakistan had contacted the US authorities.
“They realized that this map is illegal. The international map of J&K, which marks Pakistani and Indian territories, is legally approved by the United Nations. If you go to the United Nations website, you can see the actual map,” he said.
He added that Pakistan noted with satisfaction that “the US side has made necessary amendments to highlight the legal UN-approved map of our territory, which clearly identifies Jammu and Kashmir as a disputed territory, to be settled through a UN-governed referendum in accordance with UN Security Council resolutions.”
Map Controversy ExplainedIn the past, maps issued by the US government or the State Department often showed Pakistan-occupied Kashmir separately, broadly reflecting the location of Islamabad. This time, however, in a departure from that previous practice, the Trump administration’s map did not make that distinction.
The removal of the post has now raised new questions on the matter. Neither India nor the US has issued any official statement on this map.
