New Delhi: India lodged a strong objection after an incorrect map of the country was displayed during a seminar in Dhaka, reiterating that Jammu and Kashmir is an integral and inalienable part of India. The issue arose during a presentation at a conference focused on strengthening regional cooperation in South Asia.
The objection was raised by Pooja Kumari Jha, Second Secretary at the Indian High Commission in Dhaka, during a presentation delivered by former Bangladesh High Commissioner to India Ahmed Tariq Karim. As the map appeared on screen, the Indian diplomat immediately intervened, stating that the depiction of India was incorrect and reaffirming that Jammu and Kashmir forms an inseparable part of the country.
Following the intervention, the presenter acknowledged the objection and confirmed that India’s concern had been noted before the seminar continued.
The event, titled “Rebuilding Trust, Renewing Regional Integration: Pathways for Revitalising SAARC,” was organised by the Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS). Bangladesh’s State Minister for Foreign Affairs, Shama Obaed, attended the programme as the chief guest.
During her address, Obaed stressed the need to revitalise the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) by strengthening regional collaboration and narrowing the gap between the bloc’s potential and its actual performance. She called for stronger implementation mechanisms, greater financial capacity, more effective specialised institutions and improved follow up on regional initiatives.
The minister also revealed that Bangladesh is exploring confidence building measures in consultation with other SAARC member nations to revive regional engagement. These proposals include discussions with ambassadors and high commissioners of SAARC countries based in Dhaka, consultations with the SAARC Secretariat in Kathmandu, convening a meeting of senior officials and examining the possibility of holding a special session of the SAARC Council of Ministers.
The developments reflect renewed efforts to revive regional cooperation while underscoring India’s continued insistence on the accurate representation of its territorial boundaries in international forums.
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