US removes map after Pakistan protests territorial depiction

WASHINGTON (Web Desk) – The United States Trade Representative (USTR) has removed a map from its official X account following strong objections from Pakistan, which highlighted the depiction of disputed territories as part of India.

The map, shared on Friday alongside a press release announcing a US-India trade agreement, portrayed the entire Jammu and Kashmir region—including Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan—as Indian territory, according to Dawn News. It also included China’s Aksai Chin region within Indian boundaries, despite ongoing territorial disputes.

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Pakistan lodged a diplomatic protest, emphasizing that the map contradicted the United States’ longstanding position on Jammu and Kashmir as a disputed region recognized by the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).

Officials raised concerns with both the US Embassy in Islamabad and the State Department in Washington, stressing the sensitivity of the Kashmir issue. While the map appeared to be sourced from Google Maps and lacked specific labels, its territorial outlines carried significant diplomatic weight.

Indian media outlets interpreted the map as signaling a shift in US policy, prompting Pakistan to reaffirm its position on the disputed territories. By Monday evening, the USTR had removed the map from its social media accounts.