Pakistan’s new political map: Key takeaways

By Web Editor on 9th August 2020 • ( 0 )

Key takeaways from Pakistan’s release of its new political map

Pakistan has strengthened its claim on Jammu and Kashmir in the newly released political map. Also the claim on Junagadh and Manavadar has been reinforced. As Mark Jenkins said:

“Maps encourage boldness. They’re like cryptic love letters. They make anything seem possible.”

Key takeaways after Pakistan released its new political map:

1. In a response to India’s inclusion of Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit Baltistan in the Official Map of the Republic of India after August 5, 2019, Pakistan has now made it clear that the entire area (shaded in “green”) is “disputed territory with the final status to be determined in line with relevant UNSC Resolution”. The map also marks IOK as “INDIAN ILLEGALLY OCCUPIED JAMMU & KASHMIR”.

2. After the merger of FATA, it’s shown as a part of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for the first time.

3. To reflect the border dispute between India and China, Pakistan has marked the region as “Frontier Undefined” leaving up to the States claiming sovereignty to settle the dispute, after a UN sponsored plebiscite to ascertain the Kashmiris’ right to self-determination is held.

4. As per the new map, the LoC (Line of Control) is to be construed as a “military demarcation”. There’s no mention of the 1972 Simla Agreement which embodies a key policy change.

5. International border has been clearly marked at the frontier of the Indian State of Himachal Pradesh.

6. The red dotted line of control (military demarcation) has been extended from NJ9842 to the Chinese Border to reflect Pakistan’s undisputed claim on the Indian illegal occupation of “Siachen Glacier”.

7. The long-standing “Sir Creek Dispute” has been settled on the new official map to reflect Pakistan’s claims that the maritime boundary between Sindh and Kutch (Gujarat) lies to the east of the bank / estuary.

8. Pakistan has reinforced it’s claim on Junagadh and Manavadar. So in toto, it appears that the media hoopla on Pakistan marking Indian Occupied Kashmir as part of Pakistan’s sovereign borders were largely unfounded.

Pakistan is distancing itself from the Simla Agreement which India has used time and again to rebuke any efforts to “internationalize” the Kashmir (or any other) dispute.