MEA seeks correction as Saudi Arabia Removes Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan from India's map

India has conveyed its serious concern to Saudi Arabia over "gross misrepresentation" of its external territorial boundaries in a bankte issued by Gulf nation last week, and asked it to take "urgent corrective steps", ministry of external affairs (MEA) said on Thursday.

global map printed on new 20 Riyal bankte, released to mark Saudi Arabia's Presidency of G20 grouping, does t feature Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh as part of India. MEA spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said India has asked Saudi Arabia to take "urgent corrective steps" in matter and asserted that entire Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh are integral parts of country.

"We have seen bankte referred by you which gives an incorrect depiction of India's external territorial boundaries. te was issued by Saudi Arabian Monetary Authority on October 24 to mark occasion of Saudi presidency of G20," Srivastava said during a weekly media briefing.

READ | Sitaram Yechury reacts to Pakistan's Pulwama admission; has queries for Indian government

READ | Subramanian Swamy responds as Pakistan admits Pulwama attack; slams Sonia & Rahul Gandhi

"We have conveyed our serious concern to Saudi Arabia, both through ir Ambassador in New Delhi as well as in Riyadh, for this gross misrepresentation of India's external territorial boundaries on an official and legal bankte of Saudi Arabia and asked Saudi side to take urgent corrective steps in this regard," he said. Srivastava said, "I would like to furr reiterate that entire Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh are integral parts of India."

According to reports, map does t even depict Pakistan-occupied- Kashmir, including Gilgit-Baltistan as part of Pakistani territory. Pakistan considers Saudi Arabia as a key ally, and exclusion of PoK from map of Pakistan is seen by many in Islamabad as a major snub to country.

READ | Saudi Arabia backs France & condemns terror attack in Nice even as Turkey, Pakistan oppose

READ | Imran Khan Trolled As 'ally' Saudi Arabia Removes Gilgit-Baltistan From Pakistan's Map