Key facts
- US deleted a post promoting India-US trade deal
- Map in the post showed PoK and Aksai Chin outside Indian territory
- India considers both regions integral parts of its territory
- Removal came after sharp reactions from Indian side
NDTV reports that the US government deleted a post related to a proposed India-US trade deal after it was found to contain a map that showed Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and Aksai Chin as territories not belonging to India — a depiction that is unacceptable under India's official position on its boundaries.
India considers both PoK and Aksai Chin integral parts of its sovereign territory, and any foreign government publication showing otherwise is treated as a serious diplomatic matter. The swift deletion suggests Washington moved to contain the fallout before it could formally escalate.
The incident occurs against the backdrop of ongoing India-US trade negotiations, where both sides are working toward a bilateral trade agreement. For Indian readers, the episode is a reminder that cartographic disputes remain a live diplomatic nerve — and that trade talks between India and the US, which could reshape tariffs on goods ranging from pharmaceuticals to electronics, are being conducted in a politically charged environment.