Archive · 7 Sep 2026
India-Pakistan Map Dispute Revives Tensions Over Jammu and Kashmir
India and Pakistan disagree about who owns Jammu and Kashmir.
They each control parts of the region but claim the whole area.
The argument began after both countries supported a United Nations resolution about making maps more accurate.
India said maps must show its territories according to India’s official map.
Pakistan said India cannot decide the region’s status by itself.
Pakistan called the dispute an unresolved issue before the United Nations Security Council.
The region has caused serious tensions between the countries for many years.
India and Pakistan have fought three wars over it since 1947.
India said maps must depict Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh according to its official map.
Pakistan called India’s sovereignty claims over Jammu and Kashmir baseless and unilateral.
The dispute followed a United Nations vote on more accurate map projections.
The resolution encourages use of the Equal Earth projection to represent land sizes more accurately.
India and Pakistan have fought three wars over Jammu and Kashmir since 1947.
- Who
- India and Pakistan, with the United Nations involved through a map-projection resolution.
- What
- A dispute erupted over how maps depict sovereignty over Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.
- When
- The dispute followed a United Nations vote on Friday and statements issued by India on Sunday and Pakistan on Monday.
- Where
- The dispute concerns Jammu and Kashmir, a Himalayan region administered in parts by India and Pakistan.
- Why
- India objected to inaccurate depictions of its territories, while Pakistan rejected India’s unilateral sovereignty claims over the disputed region.
India’s Position
Pakistan’s Position
Depiction of territory
India’s Position
India said its sovereign territory, including Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, must be shown according to its official map.
Pakistan’s Position
Pakistan said India’s depiction of sovereignty over the disputed area was baseless and that sovereignty cannot be claimed by one side.
Status of Jammu and Kashmir
India’s Position
India reiterated that inaccurate depictions of its territories are unacceptable and maintained its position on sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Pakistan’s Position
Pakistan said Jammu and Kashmir remains an unresolved, internationally recognized dispute and that India’s unilateral claims have no bearing on its status.
- Disputed region
- Jammu and Kashmir
- India’s position
- Maps should depict Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh according to India’s official map.
- Pakistan’s position
- India’s official maps and unilateral sovereignty claims do not determine the territory’s status.
- UN resolution
- Encourages governments, schools, international organizations and technology companies to use more accurate map projections.
- Recommended projection
- Equal Earth projection
- Vote result
- The United States voted against; six countries, including Ukraine, abstained.
- Historical conflict
- India and Pakistan have fought three wars over the Himalayan region since 1947.