Incorrect India map on US military website draws attention after name change
The United States Department of War has announced that the US Indo-Pacific Command (USINDOPACOM) will revert to its previous name, the US Pacific Command (USPACOM), restoring the designation used for more than 70 years.
The decision reverses the 2018 renaming carried out under then US Defence Secretary Jim Mattis, when the command was redesignated to highlight the growing strategic importance of the Indian Ocean region.
Alongside the announcement, an official map on the USPACOM website drew attention for depicting Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK) as part of Pakistan in its “Area of Responsibility” section.
According to the department, the name change is intended to honour the command’s historical identity and legacy. Officials said the move does not affect the command’s mission, operational role or geographical responsibilities.
The command’s area of responsibility continues to stretch from the western coast of the United States to India’s western boundary and includes much of the Pacific and Indian Oceans, East Asia, Southeast Asia and Australia.
Established on January 1, 1947, under President Harry S Truman, the command is one of the oldest and largest unified combatant commands in the US military. It has played major roles in regional security operations, military partnerships, disaster response missions and strategic planning across Asia-Pacific.
Headquartered in Hawaii, USPACOM remains responsible for defence cooperation, maritime security, military exercises and contingency operations across a vast strategic region.
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