Nepal Airlines apologised after a social media post wrongly depicted Jammu and Kashmir as part of Pakistan, saying the map was uploaded in error and removed within hours…reports Asian Lite News
Nepal’s national flag carrier, Nepal Airlines, on Thursday issued an apology after a network map shared on its social media platforms incorrectly depicted India’s Jammu and Kashmir region as part of Pakistan.
The airline described the incident as an unintentional error and clarified that the map did not reflect Nepal’s official position on international boundaries.
“We sincerely apologise for the error in the network map recently shared on our social media channels. We have immediately removed the post and are conducting an internal review to ensure our materials meet the highest standards of accuracy,” the airline said in a statement posted online.
The carrier added that it deeply valued its relations with neighbouring countries and regretted any offence caused by the post.
Archana Khadka, spokesperson for the Nepal Airlines Corporation, told IANS that the mistake occurred during the selection of a map sourced from Google, which was later incorporated into the airline’s network graphic.
“It was not intentional. Once we noticed the issue, the post was taken down within two to three hours,” Khadka said.
The controversial image quickly spread across social media platforms, drawing strong reactions from Indian users. Several users criticised the airline and called for a boycott, while others described the incident as an act of “cartographic aggression”.
Nepal Airlines currently operates services connecting Kathmandu with destinations including New Delhi, several cities in West Asia, Southeast Asia, and China.
The incident comes at a time when ties between India and Nepal remain closely intertwined through deep cultural links, economic cooperation, and the 1950 Treaty of Peace and Friendship, which allows open border movement between the two nations.
India continues to be one of Nepal’s biggest development partners. According to Nepal’s Finance Ministry, India emerged as the largest bilateral donor to Nepal during the 2024–25 fiscal year, contributing more than 107 million US dollars in assistance for various development and infrastructure projects.
Meanwhile, diplomatic engagement between the two neighbours is also expected to intensify in the coming weeks. A recent report in The Kathmandu Post stated that India has proposed a visit by Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri to Nepal on May 11 and 12 ahead of a planned visit by newly elected Nepali Prime Minister Balendra Shah to India.
According to diplomatic sources cited in the report, New Delhi has proposed the dates for the visit and is awaiting confirmation from Kathmandu.
Nepal’s Foreign Minister Sishir Khanal had earlier confirmed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had invited Shah to visit India, and that the invitation had been accepted, although the trip is expected to take place after Nepal finalises its domestic priorities.
