Indian map issue: Saudi Arabia is likely to withdraw the banknote soon, MEA

Ahead of the G20 summit, Saudi Arabia is acting on India’s concerns over the issue on the incorrect map, sources confirming the development said on Friday. The sources added that Saudi Arabia is also likely to withdraw the banknote soon.

In October, India had conveyed its serious concern to Saudi Arabia over “gross misrepresentation” of its external territorial boundaries in a banknote issued and asked it to take “urgent corrective steps”, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) had said.

The global map printed on the new 20 Riyal currency, released to mark Saudi Arabia’s Presidency of the G20 grouping, does not feature Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh as part of India.

India had asked Saudi Arabia to take “corrective steps” on the new currency note. MEA Spokesperson Anurag Srivastava had asserted that the entire Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh are integral parts of the country.