India formally objected after an allegedly incorrect map depicting Jammu and Kashmir was displayed during a seminar on reviving the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) at the Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS) in Dhaka.
The intervention came from Pooja Kumari Jha, Second Secretary at the Indian High Commission in Bangladesh, who interrupted former Bangladesh High Commissioner to India Ahmed Tariq Karim’s presentation, stating that “Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India”.
Karim responded that the map was used “for representational purposes only” and did not depict actual political boundaries before acknowledging India’s objection, saying, “Point noted.”
The seminar, attended by Bangladesh’s State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed, otherwise focused on rebuilding regional trust and revitalising SAARC through stronger institutional cooperation.
A video of the brief exchange has since circulated widely across social media, drawing praise from many Indian users while once again highlighting how cartographic representations remain diplomatically sensitive across South Asia.
Diplomatic Exchange Unfolds
The incident occurred during the seminar titled “Rebuilding Trust, Renewing Regional Integration: Pathways for Revitalising SAARC”, organised at BIISS in Dhaka to discuss ways of strengthening regional cooperation among South Asian nations.
As Ahmed Tariq Karim presented a slide that reportedly showed Jammu and Kashmir outside India’s territorial boundaries, Pooja Kumari Jha immediately intervened, saying, “Sir, this is an incorrect map. Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India.”
Karim replied that the map had been included purely for representational purposes and “doesn’t project actual boundaries”. While acknowledging the clarification, Jha reiterated India’s longstanding position, stating that the territory had nevertheless been misrepresented and that she wished to formally register India’s objection.
Karim subsequently responded with “Point noted” before continuing with the presentation. According to the Indian side, the intervention was intended to reaffirm New Delhi’s consistent position that Jammu and Kashmir is an integral and inalienable part of India and that Indian diplomatic missions routinely object whenever maps presented at international forums differ from India’s official territorial claims.
The exchange, though lasting only a few moments, quickly became one of the most discussed aspects of the seminar after recordings were widely shared online.
Regional Context And Wider Reactions
While the map dispute attracted widespread public attention, the seminar itself centred on rebuilding confidence among SAARC member states and exploring ways to revive regional cooperation after years of limited engagement.
Addressing the gathering as chief guest, Bangladesh’s State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed stressed that South Asia’s considerable potential has yet to translate into meaningful regional integration.
She argued that SAARC requires stronger implementation mechanisms, greater institutional capacity, improved financial resources and a more effective culture of follow-up if it is to regain relevance.
Obaed also revealed that Bangladesh is considering consultations with SAARC member states, including meetings involving ambassadors and high commissioners in Dhaka, discussions with the SAARC Secretariat in Kathmandu, and the possibility of convening senior officials and a special session of the Council of Ministers.
Meanwhile, clips of Jha’s intervention spread rapidly across X, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube, where many Indian users praised her for immediately raising the objection and defending India’s official position.
The episode also renewed discussion around the diplomatic importance of maps, with governments around the world frequently objecting to representations they believe contradict their territorial claims.
Such disagreements over maps have long remained a sensitive aspect of international diplomacy, particularly in regions where territorial disputes continue to shape bilateral and regional relations.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
Diplomatic forums exist to encourage dialogue, mutual understanding and regional cooperation, making accuracy and sensitivity especially important when presenting issues that touch upon national identity and territorial claims. Regardless of intent, disputed maps can quickly overshadow broader conversations, as demonstrated by the events in Dhaka where a seminar on rebuilding regional trust briefly shifted attention towards a cartographic controversy.
At the same time, the manner in which the exchange unfolded with an objection being raised, a clarification offered and the discussion proceeding without escalation illustrates how disagreements can be addressed through respectful diplomatic engagement rather than confrontation.
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