In a rare move, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) publicly apologised after sharing a map on social media that incorrectly showed Jammu and Kashmir as part of Pakistan. The map, posted on X (formerly Twitter), was part of a graphic showing the missile range of Iran but quickly drew sharp criticism from Indian users for misrepresenting India’s international boundaries.
The IDF responded by acknowledging the mistake, stating that the map “fails to precisely depict borders” and was merely “an illustration of the region.” The apology came approximately 90 minutes after the original post, in reply to a tweet from a handle called “Indian Right Wing Community.”
“This post is an illustration of the region. This map fails to precisely depict borders. We apologise for any offense caused,” the Israeli military stated.
Indians React with Anger and Disbelief
Several Indian users expressed outrage, tagging Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and demanding immediate corrections. One user remarked, “Now you understand why India remains neutral. In diplomacy, no one’s really your friend.”
Another user criticised Israel for ignoring India’s sacrifices in maintaining its territorial integrity, referencing Indian soldiers who fought to protect national borders.
No Official Indian Response Yet
As of now, the Indian government has not issued an official response to the incident. However, India has consistently reiterated its position that Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, parts of which are illegally occupied by Pakistan and China, are integral parts of the country. Prime Minister Narendra Modi echoed this sentiment in May following the Pahalgam terror attack and Operation Sindoor.
Map Error Strains Strong Bilateral Ties
The erroneous map surprised many, given the longstanding friendly ties between India and Israel. In 2017, Prime Minister Modi became the first Indian leader to visit Israel. India is also one of Israel’s top military equipment buyers and a major trade partner, trailing only the United States, United Kingdom, Hong Kong, and China.
Given this strategic and diplomatic closeness, the inaccurate depiction of India’s borders sparked confusion and concern among many Indian supporters of Israel.
The Controversial Map and Regional Tensions
The map that sparked the controversy was shared late Friday evening as part of a post portraying Iran as a “global threat.” The graphic showed concentric red circles radiating from Iran, highlighting its missile reach over regions including Saudi Arabia, Libya, Ethiopia, India, China, Russia, Romania, and Bulgaria.
The post was seen in the context of rising tensions between Israel and Iran following Tel Aviv’s military operations to thwart Iran’s nuclear ambitions. Israel claimed Iran retaliated by launching dozens of missiles, many of which were intercepted with the help of the United States.
Leaders Trade Threats Amid Escalation
The diplomatic heat has intensified with both Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei exchanging threats. Khamenei accused Israel of provoking war, while Netanyahu warned, “more is on the way,” in response to Iran’s missile strikes.