In a notable diplomatic exchange this week, Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry confirmed that it formally reached out to the United States after an infographic shared by the Office of the US Trade Representative (USTR) depicted Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and the Aksai Chin region as part of India. The graphic, which accompanied an announcement on a proposed interim India-US trade framework, was later removed from official channels after Islamabad raised strong objections.
The USTR had posted the map as part of a broader communication about the trade agreement framework, featuring India’s entire territory — including disputed regions — without customary demarcations. Traditionally, official US maps distinguish Pakistan-administered Kashmir and Aksai Chin, reflecting the long-standing position that these areas are contested under relevant international resolutions.
At a press briefing in Islamabad, Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said the matter was taken up “formally” with US authorities shortly after the graphic appeared on social media. He described the map’s representation of PoK as “erroneous” and insisted that official depictions of territorial boundaries should align with internationally recognised positions, particularly those reflected in United Nations cartography.
Andrabi noted that Islamabad welcomed the deletion of the post but emphasised that it would continue to monitor and engage through diplomatic channels to ensure that future representations do not create misleading impressions. Pakistan’s objection draws attention to the sensitive nature of territorial disputes in South Asia and highlights the diplomatic weight that even visual materials can carry in international relations.
New Delhi has consistently maintained that Jammu and Kashmir — including PoK — is an integral part of India. Since the reorganisation of Jammu and Kashmir in August 2019, India has reinforced its territorial claims in domestic policy and official maps published within the country. However, Washington’s traditional practice of using neutral or disputed boundary lines in official cartography mirrored diplomatic sensitivities regarding the region’s unresolved status.
The USTR has not provided a detailed public explanation for the graphic’s removal. The initial posting had attracted attention from observers and media outlets, some interpreting it as a potential shift in Washington’s visual representation of territory at a time when India and the US are negotiating a phased trade agreement. Others cautioned that the deletion likely reflects careful diplomatic calibration rather than a substantive policy change.
Experts noted that the controversy underscores how small elements — such as the inclusion or exclusion of disputed regions on a map — can quickly take on outsized significance in diplomatic discourse. Cartographic representations issued by government entities are not merely technical; in many cases, they are viewed through geopolitical and symbolic lenses that resonate with national narratives.
The episode comes amid ongoing efforts by New Delhi and Washington to strengthen bilateral ties across trade, technology and strategic domains. The interim trade framework discussed by both sides includes tariff adjustments aimed at boosting two-way commerce, adding another layer to the backdrop against which the map controversy unfolded.
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