An Indian diplomat has objected to an incorrect map displayed during a seminar in Dhaka, reiterating New Delhi’s position that Jammu and Kashmir is an integral and inalienable part of India. A false Jammu and Kashmir map was shown on Friday during a seminar at the Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS) in Dhaka.
The issue surfaced during a seminar titled “Rebuilding Trust, Renewing Regional Integration: Pathways for Revitalising SAARC” when former Bangladesh High Commissioner to India Ahmed Tariq Karim used a presentation that showed Jammu and Kashmir as part of Pakistan.
Pooja Kumari Jha, Second Secretary at the Indian High Commission in Dhaka, immediately intervened during the presentation. “Sir, this is an incorrect map. Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India,” she said. Responding to this, Karim said that the map was being used only for representational purposes and did not reflect actual international boundaries.
While acknowledging the clarification, Jha reiterated India’s official position and said Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India and it is misrepresented here.
Karim then asked whether she was from India, following which Jha identified herself as an officer from the Indian High Commission. Karim acknowledged the objection, saying, “point noted,” before continuing his presentation.
According to the Indian side, the intervention was aimed at reaffirming India’s territorial integrity and reiterating its longstanding position that Jammu and Kashmir is an integral and inalienable part of the country.
The seminar was attended by Bangladesh’s State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed as the chief guest.
During her address, Obaed stressed the need to revitalise the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), saying the regional grouping requires stronger implementation mechanisms, improved financial capacity, more effective specialised institutions and a stronger culture of follow-up.
She also said Bangladesh is considering a calibrated set of confidence-building measures in consultation with SAARC member countries. These may include engagement with ambassadors and high commissioners of SAARC nations based in Dhaka, consultations with the SAARC Secretariat in Kathmandu, a meeting of senior officials and the possibility of convening a special session of the Council of Ministers.
Obaed added that broader diplomatic outreach at the highest level could also be explored to strengthen regional cooperation.
Meanwhile, a video of the exchange between Jha and Karim has been widely shared on social media, with several users praising the Indian diplomat for promptly objecting to the incorrect depiction of India’s map.