Indian diplomat objects to wrong map at Bangladesh seminar, says J&K integral part of country – watch video | Today’s news
India has protested the use of an inaccurate map of the country at a seminar organized by the Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS), reaffirming its stance that Jammu and Kashmir is an inalienable and sovereign part of India.
The issue arose during a presentation by Ahmed Tariq Karim, former Bangladesh High Commissioner to India, at a seminar titled “Rebuilding Trust, Rebuilding Regional Integration: Pathways to SAARC Revitalization” held at the BIISS Auditorium on Monday.
Pooja Kumari Jha, second secretary of the Indian High Commission in Dhaka, immediately objected to the depiction on the map, stating, “The map of India shown is incorrect. Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India.”
Soon after her intervention, former Bangladesh High Commissioner to India Ahmed Tariq Karim acknowledged the objection and said it was on record.
Bangladesh’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed attended the seminar as the chief guest.
Bangladesh emphasizes the importance of deeper regional cooperation within South Asia
Meanwhile, in his address to the gathering, Obaed stressed the need for stronger regional cooperation in South Asia and called for greater efforts to bridge the gap between the region’s untapped potential and its real progress.
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Outlining several steps to revive SAARC, she said the regional bloc requires strengthened implementation mechanisms, stronger financial resources, more effective specialized institutions and a results-oriented monitoring culture.
Obaed also revealed that Bangladesh is considering consultations with other SAARC member states to facilitate closer regional engagement, including the possibility of convening a meeting of senior officials and holding a special meeting of the Council of Ministers.
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“With this in mind, we are considering a calibrated set of confidence-building initiatives in the coming months that will be subject to consultation with SAARC member states. These may include engagement with the Dhaka-based SAARC ambassadors and high commissioners, as well as consultation with the SAARC Secretariat in Kathmandu regarding the convening of senior officials’ meetings and the possibility of a ministerial meeting at the ANI Council meeting as a special meeting of the ANI Council.
She added: “We may also consider wider diplomatic outreach at the highest diplomatic level.”
US restores “Indo-Pacific Command” to “US Pacific Command”, shows inaccurate map of India
The United States last month renamed the US Indo-Pacific Command the US Pacific Command, reversing the designation it had held for the past eight years.
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In announcing the move on Tuesday, the US Department of Defense said the change reflected the command’s historic legacy, which dates back to 1947 when it was established under former President Harry Truman.
The decision also drew attention in India after a map showing the command’s area of responsibility was displayed on the Pacific Command’s official website, which inaccurately depicted India’s borders. The map omits Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and Aksai Chin from Indian territory, prompting political reactions.
A statement on the website said the section containing the map was last updated in March.
New Delhi has consistently maintained that the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh are an integral and inalienable part of India, citing the “full, legal and irrevocable accession” of Jammu and Kashmir to India in 1947.
The map controversy also sparked political backlash with the opposition Congress criticizing the BJP-led government over the issue.
