Pakistan unveiled a new political map that shows all of Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Sir Creek as well as Junagadh in Gujarat as its own. It is interesting to note that the map has been revealed on the backdrop of 1st anniversary of revocation of special status of J&K and the bifurcation of the two. Commenting that the inclusion of Indian Union Territories as a new move, Pakistan PM says that the new map reflects the aspirations of the people.

Changes in the map

    • Inclusion of entire J&K and Ladakh as disputed territories

        ◦ Seems to be in retaliation to India's inclusion of Pakistan occupied Kashmir as part of Union territory of J&K and of Gilgit Baltistan as part of Ladakh released on november last.

    • Sir Creek on the Kutch coastline

        ◦ Its actually a surprise entry since both the countries have reached an agreement in 2007-2008

        ◦ As per the new map, Pakistan claims the entire width of the estuary whereas India says half of it belongs to us.

    • Renaming a major road in Islamabad as Srinagar Highway which was earlier called as Kashmir Highway

    • Siachen is claimed as a portion of Pakistan

    • Federally Administered Tribal Areas as part of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province

    • Junagadh in coastal Gujarat

        ◦ Junagadh was once a princely state with Hindu majority subjects ruled by a Muslim who opted for Pakistan in 1947 however the subjects wanted to join India. Later on Pakistan accepted the same.

Background

    • Its going to be one year since the GoI has withdrawn the special privileges of J&K under Article 370 and Pakistan had something do in counter to appease the domestic audience.

    • Recently Nepal had introduced a new political map including territories claimed by India and ratified by the Nepal Parliament.

    • Pakistan's attempt to provoke has come during the ongoing crisis between India and China and when talks are going on for de-escalation in Ladakh sector.

    • On China's insistence, UN Security council discussed the Abrogation of Article 370 in August last year however other Security Council members US, France, England, Russia have constantly supported India's stand here.

    • India has always pointed out that Pakistan is the epicentre of International Terrorism and is still on the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) list. Last month even UN asked Pakistan to introspect on the same.

India's Reaction

India has reacted fervently saying that the exercise is a political absurdity, which lays untenable claims to territories in the Indian state of Gujarat and our Union Territories of Jammu & Kashmir and of Ladakh. The government said "These ridiculous assertions have neither legal validity nor international credibility. In fact, this new effort only confirms the reality of Pakistan's obsession with territorial aggrandisement supported by cross-border terrorism".