New Delhi: In a rare move, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has issued a public apology after posting a map on social media that incorrectly depicted India’s international boundaries — omitting Jammu and Kashmir from Indian territory and wrongly showing it as part of Pakistan. The post, shared on X (formerly Twitter) on Friday evening, was intended to highlight Israel’s view of Iran as a “global threat” but sparked immediate backlash from Indian users.
The controversial map was included in a tweet from the IDF warning of the missile threat posed by Iran. The image displayed concentric red circles emanating from Iran, indicating potential strike ranges over regions spanning West Asia, parts of Africa, Europe, and Asia — including India. However, what caught Indian users’ attention was the inaccurate portrayal of Indian borders, particularly the misrepresentation of Jammu and Kashmir.
The error prompted a wave of criticism on social media, with many users tagging Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and demanding the map be deleted and corrected. One user remarked, “Now you understand why India remains neutral. In diplomacy, no one’s really your friend.” Another noted the irony, pointing to the long-standing friendship between India and Israel and the sacrifice of Indian soldiers in protecting national integrity.
In response to one such post by the handle “Indian Right Wing Community,” the IDF issued a clarification roughly 90 minutes after the original post. “This post is an illustration of the region. This map fails to precisely depict borders. We apologise for any offense caused,” the IDF replied.
So far, the Indian government has not officially responded to the incident. However, India has consistently reiterated its position that Jammu and Kashmir, including areas under illegal occupation by Pakistan and China, remain an integral and inseparable part of the country — a message reinforced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi as recently as May following a terror attack in Pahalgam and during Operation Sindoor.
The diplomatic misstep is surprising given the strengthening ties between New Delhi and Tel Aviv over recent years. In 2017, Prime Minister Modi became the first Indian leader to visit Israel, and since then, the two nations have expanded cooperation across sectors — including defense, trade, and agriculture. India is also one of Israel’s largest defense equipment clients, and bilateral trade is expected to grow further.
The map error comes at a time of heightened tensions between Israel and Iran, with fears of a broader regional conflict. Following Hamas’ October 7 attacks, Israel has escalated its military actions across the region. Last week, the IDF launched its largest strikes on Iranian military and nuclear sites in an attempt to halt Tehran’s nuclear ambitions. Iran retaliated by launching dozens of missiles — some of which, according to Israel, were intercepted with U.S. assistance.
In the midst of this geopolitical standoff, the IDF’s inaccurate map and its quick apology highlight how sensitive territorial integrity issues remain — especially with countries like India, which has long-standing and deeply held concerns over the representation of its borders on the global stage.
