Israel Defense Forces Corrects Map Error, Recognizes Kashmir as Indian Territory
IDF Issues Apology for Map Misrepresentation
On Saturday, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) released a revised graphic that accurately depicts Kashmir as part of India, correcting a previous error that had shown the region as belonging to Pakistan. This misrepresentation, which was shared on Friday, led to significant backlash from Indian citizens.
Lieutenant Colonel Nadav Shoshani, the IDF's International Spokesperson, admitted the mistake, explaining that they had "inadvertently used an incorrect world map" while addressing nuclear threats. He expressed appreciation to Indian users on social media for highlighting the error.
Continued Territorial Discrepancies
Despite the correction regarding Kashmir, the IDF's updated map still inaccurately represented India's northeastern regions as part of Nepal. The initial tweet that ignited the diplomatic controversy featured a graphic illustrating concentric red circles from Iran, indicating the missile range that posed a threat to various countries, including India.
The graphic's inaccuracies regarding India's borders were quickly pointed out by netizens, some of whom tagged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, urging for the post to be amended.
Public Reaction and Diplomatic Relations
The IDF faced immediate criticism, with many users demanding the graphic be deleted and replaced with an accurate version. One user remarked, "Forget precision, it’s no way near the truth. Why not change it rather than posting this sorry note?" After the IDF's apology, some users acknowledged the gesture, stating, "Israel is a friend of India. Only a friend will apologize for a mistake."
As of now, the Indian government has not officially commented on the incident. The relationship between India and Israel has strengthened significantly, particularly following Prime Minister Narendra Modi's landmark visit in 2017, which marked a new chapter in bilateral cooperation.
Military and Economic Ties
India has invested approximately USD 9 billion in defense acquisitions from Israel between 1999 and 2010, making Israel the second-largest supplier of military equipment to India after Russia. In return, Israel relies heavily on India, with around 42.1% of its arms exports directed to the country.
Additionally, Israel has spent USD 3.2 billion on crude oil and diamonds from India, highlighting the significance of India in Israel's trade framework. The two nations collaborate on military training and intelligence sharing, particularly in counter-terrorism efforts.
Recent Military Developments
In related news, the Shahran oil depot near Tehran was reportedly targeted in an Israeli strike, with Defense Minister Israel Katz stating, "Tehran is ablaze" as footage circulated on social media. Iran's oil ministry confirmed that the situation was under control following the attack.
Syria has closed its airspace for commercial flights until Sunday morning, as reported by state news agency SANA. The IDF also conducted strikes in Yemen targeting a senior Houthi military leader, with sources confirming ongoing operations against Iranian missile threats.