State-run carrier Nepal Airlines has issued a public apology after a controversial “network map” shared on its social media platforms depicted the entire Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh as part of Pakistan, triggering sharp backlash across India.The row erupted on Wednesday when the airline posted a route map that inaccurately redrew India’s northern boundaries. The image spread rapidly on platforms such as X and Facebook, drawing criticism from users who flagged the depiction as a serious territorial misrepresentation.Facing mounting outrage, the airline deleted the post within hours. By Thursday, it issued a formal apology, describing the episode as a “cartographic inaccuracy” and distancing itself from the map’s depiction. The carrier said the boundaries shown did not reflect the official position of either the Nepal government or the airline.In its statement, Nepal Airlines said it regretted the error in the map shared online and acknowledged that it contained significant inaccuracies in portraying international borders. It maintained that the depiction was unintended and did not align with its official stance.The apology, however, has done little to calm tempers. The incident has triggered wider questions about oversight and intent, with several voices in India calling the error too serious to be dismissed as a mere oversight.Among those reacting strongly was Bhojpuri actor Khesari Lal Yadav, who termed the map distortion a “deliberate act” and demanded clarity from the airline.Social media platforms saw a surge of criticism directed at both the airline and Nepal’s establishment. Several users pointed to India’s longstanding economic and humanitarian support to Nepal, arguing that such incidents risk straining bilateral goodwill. Others alleged a pattern of messaging from sections within Nepal that periodically take a critical line against India.Some users went further, questioning whether the episode could have been intentional, suggesting that such a significant territorial error would be difficult to attribute to simple negligence. A section of voices even called for stricter measures, including reviewing aviation access, to underline the seriousness of the issue.