Russia's SCO map reflects India's position on J&K, Ladakh and Arunachal

The Russian government's map of SCO members has mirrored India's position on J&K, Ladakh and Arunachal Pradesh. The map released by state-owned Sputnik news agency has shown Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and Aksai Chin, as well as the entire Arunachal Pradesh, as part of India, notwithstanding views of fellow SCO members Pakistan and China.

The map has boosted India's position on the J&K issue internationally and within SCO. It comes in the backdrop of the visit of the US ambassador to PoK. The ambassador had called it 'Azad Kashmir'. The German foreign minister too had recently suggested the role of the UN in solving the Kashmir dispute between India and Pakistan.

ET has learnt that China had tried to play spoilsport by showing certain areas of India as part of its territory in a map released recently for the SCO. The correct depiction of India's map by Russia, one of the founder members of SCO, has set the record straight, a government insider said.


The Soviet Union and Russia have backed India on Kashmir since 1947 and have used veto in the UNSC to block anti-India resolutions. Moscow has repeatedly said Kashmir was a bilateral issue between India and Pakistan, preventing any internationalisation of the dispute.