Pakistan map. PHOTO: AFP/ FILE
The projection of a wrong map of Pakistan by USAID officials during an event at the Multan Electric Power Company (Mepco) office has provoked much anger, both among Mepco engineers and the citizens of Multan.
During a presentation at the inauguration of a planning and engineering computer centre at the Mepco office on Thursday, USAID officials projected a map which showed Azad Jammu and Kashmir as a separate area from Pakistan and did not show Indian-administered Kashmir at all. A similar map was also displayed on USAID banners set up for the event as well.
The controversial map prompted a harsh response from the Mepco Engineers Association, which accused USAID officials of trying to please India. It demanded a public apology from the officials and said no one from USAID would be allowed to enter the premises of the Mepco office until then.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 9th, 2013.
COMMENTS (17)
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Very well done USA and very impressively you proved and showed your hidden intentions and friendship with India.....
@PakPower:
"Pay close attention, it is not separate rather it is shown with India."
If you paid close attention to the article it says "USAID officials projected a map which showed Azad Jammu and Kashmir as a separate area from Pakistan"
As I had pointed out earlier, Pakistan's official position has been that, apart from J&K, the entire Kashmir including Azad Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan and other Northern areas are DISPUTED territories. Pakistan has never officially claimed them to be part of Pakistan. Therefore, showing GB and northern areas or AK as part of Pakistan is against Pakistan's international/UN official position.
I do not find any reason for all this mess. We in Pakistan shall now accept that Jammu and Kashmir is now a part of India. We have repeatedly missed chances of getting Kashmir. Why no one, literally not even a single Pakistani went to demonstrate on roads when China asked Ayub Khan to attack and annex Kahmir during the Sino-Indian war of 1962. For your information Ayub Khan refused. The leadership and people have never been interested in that issue at all. Its just alive so that the importance of defense forces can be justified at any time. Whenever the morale and repute of Armed forces decreases, somethings starts happening at the LoC. What is this ?? You lost East Pakistan, you don't care about Baluchistan, you have no administrative control in Karachi and FATA but you keep on talking about Kashmir, this is messed up. I've relatives living in occupied Kashmir and they are happy there, and even if not happy they are satisfied as there is no law and order issue, no suicidal or sectarian killings etc. On the other hand, Kashmiri people do not want to join Pakistan, they would prefer autonomy. It's better to first improve the Pakistan we have at the moment and talking about Kashmir is so premature at this time. Its a past story, 66 years have buried the harsh reality.
@Ansar:
Ansar, dreams are always meant to be good for health, so carry on buddy... Pakistan is not banana republic that you indians will come and captured these areas which are integral part of Pakistan and NOT india, we will take remaining part of Kashmir back IN SHA ALLAH you will see. In any case, indian are most welcome to come and capture then whole world will see the destructive response from Pakistan....
What ???? Just throw them out. We don't need such people. This is disgusting
@truthbetold: Pay close attention, it is not separate rather it is shown with India.
ET also shows this map of Pakistan, where IHK is shown as part of India. And it never displays my comment when I criticize. So much for freedom of speech.
A time will come Kashmiris (when allowed to decide) will probably opt for an independent state.
I also see Waziristan as under Pakistan! How dare they!
J&K is under India's rule, atleast 2/3rds of it. Waziristan is a no-go zone, controlled by the Taliban, without any state-writ.
Parts of Balochistan too are rebelling, 200 odd people have died in the last 2 months alone. State writ is inconsequential and almost equivalent to nil.
So, if you were to really put a map of Pakistan, under Government control, there would be much left at all.
No wonder people in Multan were angry. Its called denial.
No, actually the Pakistan Occupied Kashmir or the so-called Azad Kahsmir and Gilgit Balistan are a integral part of India, which have been illegally captured by Pakistan since 1948.
Its a act of shame, that even after 60 odd years Pakistan is not leaving these parts to India fold, inshallah, they will be back to us very soon.
What! I thought Pakistan always claimed Azad Kashmir is a free area with its own constitution and prime minister. Why would showing AK as a separate area be wrong?
They showed Gilgit Baltistan as our area so they weren't too wrong.
Good. These subtle methods of trying to change our feelings for Kashmir needed to be responded to. Well done Multan.
Unfortunately this is not accidental. They know something that we don't, time to be ever vigilant.
The state of Jammu and Kashmir is by all means a part of Pakistan. Such petty tricks of Americans and Indians must be identified and responded properly.
"no one from USAID would be allowed to enter the premises of the Mepco office" They should not be allowed in entire Pakistan .. ?
Did USAID copy the map from ET website?