Backlash prompted IDF to issue multiple clarifications and at least six public apologies
KARACHI: As airstrikes between Iran and Israel continued on Friday, a diplomatic controversy unfolded online when the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) shared a map illustrating the range of Iranian missiles, drawing sharp criticism from Indian social media users over territorial misrepresentations. According to a report by BBC Urdu, a large number of Indian users took to X (formerly Twitter) to express outrage at the IDF s post, claiming it inaccurately depicted India s borders. The map in question appeared to show Jammu and Kashmir as part of Pakistan, India s northeastern states as part of Nepal, and Ladakh as Chinese territory.
The post, intended to highlight Iran s missile capabilities and the regional countries potentially within range including Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, China, Saudi Arabia and Ukraine was titled: Iran is a global threat. Israel is not its final target this is just the beginning. We had no choice but to act.
The backlash prompted the IDF to issue multiple clarifications and at least six public apologies. This post contains a regional image. The map failed to accurately reflect borders. We apologize for the offense caused by this image, read one of the responses.
Despite these apologies, many Indian users continue to demand that the IDF delete the post a step it has yet to take. While the Indian government has not officially commented on the issue, right-wing accounts and individual users used the incident to reinforce India s diplomatic neutrality. One account remarked, Now you understand why India always remains neutral. In diplomacy, you have no permanent friends. On Saturday, India s The Hindu newspaper reported that In response to the controversy, Israeli Ambassador to India Reuven Azar on X described the map as bad unintended infographics. He said he had already asked to get the map removed/fixed .
This is not the first time Israel has faced criticism in India over cartographic errors. In October 2024, the Israeli government removed a map from its official website after it was accused of depicting Jammu and Kashmir as part of Pakistan. At the time, the Israeli embassy in India acknowledged the mistake and attributed it to a website editor s oversight.
Meanwhile, India has also distanced itself from a strongly worded statement issued by the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) that condemned Israel s military strikes on Iran as violations of international law and the UN Charter.
The SCO statement denounced the Israeli attacks in unequivocal terms: Such aggressive actions against civilian targets, including energy and transport infrastructure, which have resulted in civilian casualties, are a gross violation of international law and the United Nations Charter . The statement described the strikes as a breach of Iran s sovereignty and a threat to both regional and global security. Iran is a full member of the 10-nation SCO.
Although the SCO release did not mention any dissenting voices, India issued its own clarification, stating it had not taken part in drafting or deliberating on the statement. India did not participate in the discussions on the above-mentioned SCO statement , said the Indian Ministry of External Affairs, adding that its position had been communicated to other member states.
India reiterated its call for restraint and dialogue. We urge that channels of diplomacy be utilised to work towards de-escalation, and it is essential that the international community undertake efforts in that direction , the statement read.
So far, New Delhi has limited itself to expressing deep concern over the growing hostilities. Indian Foreign Minister S Jaishankar, in a call with his Iranian counterpart on Friday, conveyed what India described as the global community s concern, and urged both sides to avoid further escalation and return to diplomatic engagement.
India s muted stance stands in contrast to more forceful condemnations from other Asian nations. Just a day earlier at the UN General Assembly, India had also abstained from voting on a resolution calling for a ceasefire in Gaza.