The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has issued a public apology after posting a map on social media that incorrectly depicted Jammu and Kashmir as part of Pakistan. The error sparked a wave of criticism, particularly from Indian users who flooded the IDF’s X (formerly Twitter) handle demanding the post be retracted.
Acknowledging the mistake, the IDF stated:
“This post is an illustration of the region. This map fails to precisely depict borders. We apologize for any offence caused by this image.”
However, the clarification did little to quell political controversy in India. The Indian National Congress seized the moment to criticize Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his foreign policy strategy. Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera posted on X,
“Another day, another feather in Vishwaguru’s cap. His ‘friend’ shows Jammu & Kashmir as a part of Pakistan.”
The post was seen as a diplomatic embarrassment, particularly given the close ties shared between PM Modi and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Modi became the first Indian PM to visit Israel in 2017, marking a shift in Indo-Israeli relations with increased public displays of friendship and strategic cooperation.
Rising Tensions: Israel-Iran Conflict Escalates
Meanwhile, the diplomatic row coincides with a dangerous flare-up in the Middle East. Iran launched another wave of missile strikes on northern Israel early Saturday morning, triggering air-raid sirens and forcing civilians into shelters.
This followed an earlier Iranian retaliation where over 100 drones were deployed in response to deadly overnight Israeli airstrikes that targeted Iranian soil under “Operation Rising Lion.” Among the casualties was Hossein Salami, the chief of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, as reported by local media.
The conflict has now evolved into a full-blown military escalation between the two regional powers, raising global concerns about wider instability in the Middle East.
As both diplomatic and military tensions surge, the incident involving the IDF’s map serves as a reminder of how sensitive geopolitical borders remain — especially when amplified on the global stage through social media.
