State-owned carrier Nepal Airlines faced strong criticism after sharing a network map that incorrectly showed the entire region of Jammu and Kashmir as part of Pakistan. The airline responded within 24 hours and issued an apology, calling it a "cartographic inaccuracy".

The controversy began on Wednesday when the airline posted the route map on its official social media accounts. In the image, the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh were depicted as falling within Pakistan’s borders. The post quickly spread across platforms like X and Facebook, attracting sharp reactions from Indian users.

As the image went viral, many users expressed anger and disappointment. The issue gained further traction online, leading to the hashtag #BoycottNepalAirlines trending widely. Several users called on India’s Ministry of External Affairs and the Aviation Ministry to take up the matter diplomatically with Nepal.

The backlash highlighted the sensitivity surrounding map representations and territorial boundaries. The airline’s explanation that the error was a "cartographic inaccuracy" did little to immediately calm the outrage, though the quick apology aimed to address the concerns.

The development also comes at a time when Nepal is going through a political phase following recent elections. The country saw a major leadership change with Balendra Shah taking charge as the youngest-ever prime minister. The incident has drawn additional attention due to the ongoing political context in the Himalayan nation.

The episode underlines how digital content, especially maps, can trigger strong responses if they involve sensitive geopolitical issues. It also shows how quickly such matters can escalate on social media and turn into diplomatic concerns.