In what appears to be a U-turn, the US Trade Representative’s office has taken down a map of India that had shown Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and Aksai Chin within Indian territory. The map had raised eyebrows because it departed from Washington’s earlier practice of marking PoK separately, in line with Pakistan’s claims.
The graphic was shared last week alongside the announcement of a new trade deal between Washington and New Delhi. Its depiction of PoK and Aksai Chin as integral parts of India triggered speculation over whether it was an error or a deliberate signal amid efforts to reset ties between the two countries.
With the debate gaining traction, the US Trade Representative’s office quietly removed the entire post from its official X account, effectively ending the discussion.
Traditionally, US government maps have shown PoK with clear demarcation to reflect the disputed status of the region. The deleted version, however, did not include such distinctions and portrayed all contested areas within India’s borders.
The development comes at a time when India and the US are looking to smooth over trade tensions. After a period of friction, both sides recently agreed to reduce tariffs — bringing down the US levy on Indian goods from 50 per cent to 18 per cent, reportedly the lowest among Asian countries. The move has been seen as paving the way for closer economic cooperation.
The map had also shown Aksai Chin — located in northeastern Ladakh — as part of India. China claims the region, a position India has consistently rejected.
New Delhi has repeatedly asserted that the entire region of Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India. The Ministry of External Affairs has, in the past, objected to what it calls incorrect depictions of India’s borders, particularly concerning Jammu and Kashmir and Arunachal Pradesh, in maps issued by foreign governments and international agencies.