India’s fresh map stirs controversy

The Pakistan government rejected the new maps issued by New Delhi which showed the entire Kashmir region as its territory, describing them as ‘incorrect and legally untenable”. The fresh maps were released after the Indian government bifurcated the territory into Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh as part of India. Earlier, Pakistan Foreign Office, made a statement saying that Islamabad rejected these political maps, which were incompatible with the United Nations’ (UN) maps. It added that no move by India could change the disputed status of Jammu and Kashmir, which has been recognized by the UN. India’s expansionist intention has manifested itself in another dangerous move of formally annexing Indian-held Kashmir, as it has come up with a fanciful new ‘map’, in violation of recognised geographical boundaries.
This malevolent scheme deliberately identifies Azad Kashmir as well as certain areas of Gilgit-Baltistan as an Indian territory. The implication of the new map is bound to create a strong public response amongst Kashmiris when the complete denial of their rights for self-determination for the Kashmiris is now confirmed by India’s actions. India’s new political map has stirred controversy in Nepal, with both New Delhi and Kathmandu laying claim to a region, known as Kalapani, as part of their countries’ territory. “The Nepal government firmly believes that the Kalapani is a part of Nepal,” Nepal’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement last week. Members of the opposition parties protested in the capital Kathmandu as well as other parts of the country, accusing India of “illegally occupying” its land.
Beijing, which claims parts of Ladakh on behalf of Tibet and still occupies some territory seized during its 1962 invasion of India, publicly objected to the new arrangements. It had accused India of undermining China’s territorial sovereignty by unilaterally changing its domestic law. Indian analysts believe New Delhi’s moves – greeted with jubilation in Ladakh – are critical for India to consolidate its hold over a region that, while remote, is the focus intense strategic competition. Ashok Malik, distinguished fellow of New Delhi’s Observer Research Foundation stated: “Even in uncontested parts of Ladakh, the superiority of Chinese infrastructure and military capacities, have seen a creeping takeover of border areas.” Anyhow, India is playing with fire, as its act of issuing a fresh map is not only provocative for Pakistan but for Nepal and China as well.