When the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) shared a post on X highlighting trade between India and the US under the new agreement, it highlighted the detail.
Rather than business sectors, the map of India stood out in the post. A map promoting the agreement depicted India as a single, undivided territory including Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and Aksai Chin.
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In a post on X, the United States Trade Representative said, “From nuts and dried distillers grains to red sorghum and fresh and processed fruits, the US-India agreement will provide new market access for American products.”
In addition, the map also shows the Aksai Chin region of northeastern Ladakh as part of India.
In the past, maps issued by the US government or the State Department usually showed a clear demarcation of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, reflecting Pakistan’s sensitivities. However, the latest map released by the Trump administration appears to completely ignore Pakistan’s claims.
While India has always maintained that Jammu and Kashmir (including Ladakh) is an integral part of the country and that its territorial claims do not need external validation, the US action is of strategic importance.
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It represents a clear and deliberate shift from previous US depictions.
Netizens react
Social media users reacted enthusiastically to the map. At the time of reporting, the post had been shared 1,500 times, received 429 comments, received 6,200 likes and was bookmarked 494 times.
One user said, “Pakistan continues to rob the US. Meanwhile, the US is showing the correct map of India.”
Another user commented: “Indians are very patriotic, they take insults very seriously. Countries can pressure the Indian government but not the citizens. Indian consumers don’t have to touch American exports. The whole country could renounce American goods if the tariff is not set to 0 very soon. I, as an Indian, will not buy American product until the tariff is zero.”
Netizens react to viral post. (Source: X)
The user added, “Yeh Dil Maange More.”
A user asked: “US suddenly remembers the real map of India. Part of the deal? or smearing the Indians?”
Another quipped, “Pakistan will cry that US showed POK in India😅.
Highlighting the significance of the move, one user commented: “The US Department of State recognizes the Indian map. This is government manipulation and the map shown is a deliberate admission rather than a mistake. Americans never make such mistakes.”
Another added: “US showing PoK and Aksai Chin as part of India!!! Our correct map is a win for us.”
“Thank you for telling Pakistan that their province of Azad Kashmir belongs to India by showing the correct map of India in your graphic,” the user commented.
PoK status on India map: Here’s what MoS Kirti Vardhan Singh had to say
Earlier on 1 August 2025, Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh in a written reply said: “It has been India’s consistent and principled position that the entire Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh was, is and will always remain an integral part of India. This resolution was unanimously passed by the Parliament of India 194.”
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He added, “Official maps published by the Government of India clearly represent the entire Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, including the territories illegally occupied by Pakistan, as part of the Union of India.
MoS Kirti Vardhan Singh noted that Pakistan is illegally occupying parts of the Indian Union Territory of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh. “The Government of India has consistently called upon Pakistan to immediately vacate all areas under its illegal and violent occupation. The Government of India has lodged strong protests with the Government of Pakistan and rejects all attempts by the Government of Pakistan to make material changes in these occupied territories,” he added.
India-US trade agreement
India and the United States unveiled the framework for an interim trade deal aimed at reducing tariffs on Indian goods.
The joint statement issued on Friday followed US President Donald Trump’s announcement last week to cut import tariffs on India, six months after he imposed heavy taxes to force Delhi to reduce its reliance on cheap Russian oil.
Under the deal, tariffs on Indian goods would drop from 25% to 18% after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi agreed to halt purchases of Russian oil, Trump said.
(With input from agencies)
