Pak sees design in India map
Simran Sodhi
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, May 17
India and Pakistan today exchanged sharp words as India dismissed efforts to “impose on the international community matters that India has always been open to address bilaterally”.
The moot point in question is India’s proposed Geospatial Information Regulation Bill. According to the draft of the Bill, the government can impose a Rs 1 billion fine on anyone distributing a ‘wrong’ map, besides sending the offender to jail.
Irked, Pakistan’s permanent representative in New York, Dr Maleeha Lodhi, has shot off a letter to the United Nations. Pakistan alleges India’s “incorrect and legally untenable” official map is in violation of Security Council resolutions as it displays the Pakistani side of Jammu and Kashmir as part of India.
“We have urged the international community and the UN to fulfil their commitment to the people of Jammu and Kashmir by holding an independent and impartial plebiscite,” she said.
The Pakistan Foreign Office said India intended to “penalise individuals and organisations who depict J&K as a disputed territory”.
India was dismissive of Pakistan’s actions. It said, “The Bill is an entirely internal legislative matter of India since the whole of the state of J&K is an integral part of India.”
