India Labels Locations in AJK as POK and India on Maps

Kashmiriat.com | May 3, 2025

In the wake of heightened tensions between India and Pakistan following the recent attack on Indian tourists in Pahalgam, the geopolitical landscape of Kashmir appears to be shifting — not just on the ground, but also on the map. A number of widely circulated online and digital maps have started to label parts of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) as either “POK” (Pakistan-occupied Kashmir) or directly as part of India.

This development has caused concern and confusion among residents of AJK, who have long resisted being reduced to mere pawns in the Indo-Pak conflict. Several key landmarks, including the Supreme Court of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Muzaffarabad Cricket Stadium, and other administrative centers in Muzaffarabad, Rawalakot, and Bagh, are now appearing under the label “POK” or even directly marked within India’s international boundaries on some Indian and third-party mapping platforms.

The term “POK” is a politically charged designation coined by India to refer to what Pakistan calls Azad Jammu and Kashmir. The shift in labeling, though symbolic, carries heavy geopolitical weight and appears to reflect India’s evolving narrative on territorial claims over the region.

The cartographic shift comes just days after the Pahalgam attack, where a group of Indian tourists was targeted by unidentified gunmen. Although investigations are ongoing, the incident has already escalated rhetoric on both sides of the border. Indian media and officials have linked the attack to “cross-border elements,” renewing calls for a tougher stance on Pakistan-administered areas.

In this charged environment, the sudden appearance of AJK areas under Indian labels on maps is being seen by many as a form of soft assertion of sovereignty. Indian officials have not issued a formal statement on the matter, but media aligned with the Indian government have described the change as “long overdue.”

Residents of AJK have expressed outrage over the shift, calling it an act of digital aggression. “They may change names on maps, but they can’t change our identity,” said a resident of Muzaffarabad. Political figures in Pakistan-administered Kashmir have urged the international community to take note of what they describe as India’s digital encroachment.

The move also raises questions about the role of digital cartography in modern geopolitics. With most users relying on platforms like Google Maps, OpenStreetMap, and others for navigation and reference, how territorial boundaries are presented can influence public perception and political discourse.

Whether this shift will be acknowledged officially by either side remains to be seen. For now, one thing is clear: the conflict over Kashmir is no longer confined to borders and battlefields — it’s unfolding on screens around the world.