UN Map Must Show J&K, Ladakh as Per India Map: MEA
India backs UN equal-area map resolution but says inaccurate or misleading depictions of its territory are unacceptable
By Anjali Sharma
WASHINGTON – Ministry of External Affairs on Sunday said that India backed the UN General Assembly resolution on an equal-area world map, stated that it must depict Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh in accordance with the country’s official map.
It added that any “inaccurate” or “misleading” representation will be unacceptable.
The resolution titled “Correct the Map: Rebalancing Global Cartographic Representation and Promoting Equitable Representation of the World’s Regions, Particularly Africa” was adopted on September 4.
It was voted in favor of a UN General Assembly resolution aimed to correct the world map to promote a more accurate representation of continental landmasses.
Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said India highlighted that the resolution does not constitute endorsement of any specific map, projection or depiction of national boundaries in response to media queries regarding the UNGA resolution on an equal-area world map.
“India voted in favour of the resolution and also made an explanation of vote stressing on the underlying principle of promoting equal – area cartographic representation,” he said.
He added that India’s sovereign territory, including the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, must be depicted in accordance with India’s official map. Any inaccurate or misleading depiction is unacceptable”.
Jaiswal said that the purpose of the resolution is to encourage the use of equal-area map projections that preserve the relative sizes of continental landmasses.
He added that the same “neither adopts nor authenticates any particular world map, nor does it address political cartography, including international boundaries, disputed territories or place names”.
“Our position on India’s sovereignty and territorial integrity is clear, consistent and non-negotiable,” he noted.
It was sponsored by Togo, the resolution received 164 votes in favor, with abstentions from Estonia, Georgia, Lithuania, Moldova, Serbia and Ukraine, and a lone vote against from the US.
