india snubs Pakistan’s objection to draft Geospatial Bill

india snubs Pakistan’s objection to draft Geospatial Bill
Pakistan foreign office expressed “serious concern” to the UN over the draft Geospatial Bill in the Indian Parliament over the map of Kashmir
Pakistan on Tuesday opposed a draft Indian legislation that seeks to penalise anyone misrepresenting India’s geographical boundaries, drawing a swift and sharp rebuke by New Delhi.

A statement from the Pakistani foreign office, forwarded by the high commission in New Delhi, said that Pakistan had “expressed serious concern to the United Nations Secretary General and the President of the UN Security Council (UNSC)... with regard to the Indian government’s efforts to introduce a controversial ‘Geospatial Information Regulation Bill’ in the Indian Parliament.

“In violation of UNSC resolutions, the official map of India has been depicting the disputed territory of Jammu and Kashmir as part of India which is factually incorrect and legally untenable,” the Pakistani statement said.

While maps printed in India and by Indian publishers show the entire Jammu and Kashmir region as part of India, many international publications have shows the territory under Indian control differently.

“Through the passage of this Bill, the Indian government would penalize the individuals and organizations who depict Jammu and Kashmir as a disputed territory as per the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolutions,” the Pakistani statement said, adding that Pakistan called upon the “United Nations to uphold the UNSC resolutions and urge India to stop such acts which are in violation of international law.

“We have urged the international community and the United Nations to fulfil their commitment with the people of Jammu and Kashmir by holding an independent and impartial plebiscite under UN auspices,” it added.

India told off Pakistan in a terse response.

“The proposed Bill is an entirely internal legislative matter of India, since the whole of the state of Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India. Pakistan or any other party has no locus standi in the matter,” Indian foreign ministry spokesman Vikas Swarup said.

“The Government firmly rejects Pakistan’s repeated and increasing attempts to impose on the international community matters that India has always been open to address bilaterally with Pakistan,” Swarup added.

According to the draft bill, geospatial data on India cannot be obtained or distributed anywhere without the permission of a three-member Security Vetting Authority.

“False” topographic information, basically representing international boundaries that India does not accept, is punishable with a fine of up to Rs.100 crore.

The bill states that a “licence will be required for creation of maps as well as dissemination of map data. It describes geospatial information as “geospatial imagery…acquired through space or aerial platforms such as satellite, aircrafts…or digital data depicting natural…physical features.”

India currently has a National Map Policy which was introduced in 2005. The policy states that only the Survey of India can bring out ‘Open Series Maps’ for development activities. The policy, however, does not mention any punitive measures for wrong maps.