Islamabad: Pakistan has lodged a formal protest with India over the way Pakistan-occupied Kashmir was shown on an Indian map, saying the depiction of the region as part of Indian territory is unacceptable and demands clarification. Officials in Islamabad conveyed strong objections through diplomatic channels, calling the representation inconsistent with international norms and saying it undermines Pakistan’s position on the disputed territory.
According to Pakistan’s foreign office, the matter was raised directly with Indian diplomatic representatives, with Islamabad asserting that the map projection could have serious implications for bilateral relations. The Pakistani side demanded that India explain the rationale behind the depiction and take corrective steps to prevent misrepresentation going forward.
Authorities in Pakistan said the map in question was being used in official Indian documents and material that Pakistan insists mischaracterises the status of the region, which it says has been under Pakistani administration since the partition of the subcontinent and subsequent conflicts. Islamabad’s objection emphasised that any unilateral portrayal of the territory as Indian undermines ongoing sensitivities and complicates prospects for dialogue.
Pakistan’s foreign office statement reiterated its long-standing position that the status of the region must be resolved through dialogue and within frameworks that recognise its disputed nature. Officials said they expect New Delhi to address the concern seriously and avoid any depiction that could be seen as prejudicial to Pakistan’s territorial claims.
The development adds another point of tension between the two neighbours, whose relationship has been strained over a range of issues, including border disputes, trade restrictions and diplomatic expulsions in recent years. Islamabad’s protest reflects the sensitivity surrounding cartographic representations of contested areas and demonstrates how even symbolic issues like maps can trigger diplomatic disagreements.
Pakistan has called on India to engage constructively on the matter and reiterated that peaceful resolution of all outstanding disputes requires mutual respect for each other’s positions and adherence to agreed norms of international engagement. The foreign office said it remains committed to pursuing dialogue while firmly protecting what it considers Pakistan’s territorial integrity.
