New Delhi, June 14, 2025 – In a rare diplomatic misstep, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) publicly apologised on social media for posting a map that inaccurately depicted Jammu & Kashmir as part of Pakistan and omitted India’s northeastern states. The graphic, shared on X (formerly Twitter) to illustrate the range of Iranian missiles, sparked swift outrage among Indian users and prompted calls for a correction. economictimes.indiatimes.comtimesofindia.indiatimes.com
5 Key Takeaways
- Error Acknowledged
The IDF statement read: “This post is an illustration of the region. This map fails to precisely depict borders. We apologize for any offense caused by this image.” theweek.in - Swift Correction
Within hours of the backlash, the IDF updated the map to properly include Jammu & Kashmir within India’s borders and restored the northeastern states along with neighbouring Nepal and Bhutan. economictimes.indiatimes.com - Diplomatic Sensitivity
Map representations remain highly sensitive in diplomatic communications, especially given India’s firm stance on its territorial integrity. - Context: Israel–Iran Tensions
The original post was part of an IDF briefing on Operation Rising Lion against Iran, underscoring the broader Middle East conflict backdrop. - Public Reaction
Prominent Indian voices, including political commentators and netizens, urged the IDF to respect India’s sovereignty and promptly retract the erroneous graphic.
Expert Analysis
“Geographical accuracy is non-negotiable in official military communications,” explains Arindam Bagchi, Spokesperson for India’s Ministry of External Affairs and former Ambassador to Belgium and Luxembourg. “We appreciate the IDF’s prompt correction, which reflects respect for India’s borders.”
Profile
What Happens Next?
- Monitoring Diplomatic Channels
Both governments will likely feature this incident in upcoming strategic dialogues to reinforce protocols on graphical assets. - Internal Review
The IDF’s Communications Directorate has initiated an internal inquiry to prevent recurrence of such errors. - Public Assurance
India’s Ministry of External Affairs has welcomed the apology, noting it as a sign of mutual respect between strategic partners.
Fact-Check
| Claim | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|
| IDF map showed J&K as part of Pakistan | True | IDF’s own admission on X theweek.in |
| Original graphic omitted India’s northeastern states, Nepal & Bhutan | True | IDF spokesperson’s acknowledgement timesofindia.indiatimes.com |
| Indian government lodged a formal protest | No formal protest reported; MEA welcomed correction | — |
Daily Digest
- Israel–Iran Conflict: Airstrikes exchanged overnight—no civilian casualties reported.
- India–Israel Relations: Defence trade talks resume next week in Tel Aviv.
- Map Protocols: UN GIS guidelines updated in May 2025 to streamline country-border conventions.
Last Updated: June 15, 2025 at 12:00 IST
