The United States Trade Representative removed a controversial map of India from its official X (formerly Twitter) account following a strong diplomatic protest from Pakistan. The map, posted alongside a press release announcing a framework for an interim US-India trade agreement, depicted the entire Jammu and Kashmir — including Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan — within Indian boundaries, and also showed China’s Aksai Chin as part of India.
Pakistani officials protested to both the US Embassy in Islamabad and the State Department, emphasizing that the map contradicted Washington’s longstanding position that the final status of Jammu and Kashmir must be determined according to relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions. The depiction was seen as potentially lending diplomatic weight to India’s claims, especially after Indian media presented the map as evidence of a US policy shift.
The USTR map was reportedly sourced from Google Maps, similar to a prior map used for a trade release involving Bangladesh, which remains online. Pakistani officials stressed that the removal was essential to prevent misinterpretation and reaffirm Islamabad’s rejection of India’s unilateral August 2019 move to revoke Jammu and Kashmir’s special status, which Pakistan considers illegal under international law.
The episode occurred as the US and India announced a bilateral trade framework, including tariff reductions on Indian goods to 18% and reciprocal cuts on US imports. Pakistani diplomats noted that even symbolic or technical depictions by influential international actors can carry serious diplomatic consequences, particularly on sensitive issues such as Kashmir.
