New Delhi, Feb 11: A map released by the US Trade Representative’s (USTR) office alongside the India-US interim trade agreement framework has ignited diplomatic firestorm, depicting the entire Jammu & Kashmir—including Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK)—and Aksai Chin as undisputed Indian territory.
The graphic, shared on X (formerly Twitter) on February 6 to highlight tariff cuts from 50% to 18% and India’s $500 billion “Buy American” pledge under President Trump’s deal with PM Modi, marked a stark departure from standard US practice of delineating PoK separately and labeling Aksai Chin as disputed.
Indian media hailed it as a “diplomatic victory” and validation of India’s territorial integrity, with analysts calling it a “silent geopolitical signal” amid strengthening bilateral ties and New Delhi’s curbs on Russian oil imports.
However, Pakistan lodged strong protests, viewing the portrayal of Azad Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Aksai Chin as Indian as a breach of US neutrality on Kashmir. Following Islamabad’s objections, USTR swiftly removed the map from social media posts, though it lingered briefly on the website—unlike unchanged maps for Bangladesh deals, fueling speculation of an error or targeted messaging.
Experts note this echoes past US map sensitivities but aligns with Trump’s “America First” reciprocity: economic concessions paired with strategic nods to India’s borders. The episode underscores how visuals can amplify trade pacts into broader South Asian power plays, with China also watching Aksai Chin’s inclusion closely.
The trade framework itself focuses on reduced tariffs for Indian goods—the lowest among Asian nations—setting stage for fuller negotiations, but the map’s ripple effects dominate headlines.
