In recent news, Pakistan released a new political map. This map incorporates all of Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh, Sir Creek, and Junagadh, territories that are predominantly claimed by India. Release of this map coincides with the initial anniversary of the revocation of Jammu & Kashmir’s special status under Article 370.
Details of the Map
The new map issued by Pakistan represents the entirety of Jammu & Kashmir as a contentious area without defining any eastern borders for the region. Moreover, Islamabad’s Kashmir Highway was rebranded as Srinagar Highway. It also asserts Pakistan’s territorial rights over the Siachen glacier, certain regions of Sir Creek, and the erstwhile state of Junagadh in Gujarat. In addition to these contentious claims, the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) have been depicted as constituents of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.
Pakistan’s History of Territorial Claims
This is not an unprecedented action by Pakistan. The country’s 2012 Atlas also depicted Junagadh as a part of Pakistani territory. Hence, this appears to be a strategic move by Pakistan to lay claims on disputed territories and assert its dominion on these areas.
India’s Reaction
India has rebuffed this new move by Pakistan, referring to it as an exercise in ‘political absurdity’. The government of India has maintained that such assertions hold no legal veracity or global credibility. Instead, it further confirms Pakistan’s obsession with territorial aggrandizement, facilitated by cross-border terrorism.
Concerns for India
This incident marks the second instance within a short duration of time where a neighboring nation has released new maps claiming Indian territories; the first one being Nepal. Both countries have shown an increasing inclination towards China. Most recently, China shifted the status quo along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the western region to benefit itself.
Description of Disputed Regions
The Sir Creek is a 96 km long strip of water between India and Pakistan within the Rann of Kutch marshlands. The Siachen Glacier, which is now part of the Union Territory of Ladakh, is the second-longest glacier in the world’s non-polar areas. The Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) existed as a semi-autonomous tribal region in northwestern Pakistan from 1947 till 2018, after which it merged with the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.
Looking Ahead
Recently, Pakistan has made several attempts to internationally highlight the change in Jammu and Kashmir’s status, but its efforts have largely been unsuccessful. India maintains a rigid standpoint – terror and talks cannot coexist. As India grapples with these challenges, it behooves the nation to perform a thorough examination of its foreign policy, particularly in light of recent shifts in diplomatic relations with neighboring countries.
