ISLAMABAD: India and Pakistan sparred on Tuesday over the former`s proposed legIslation that bars the use of maps and satellite images of the country unless these have been approved by the Indian authorities.

In a letter written to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and UN Security Council President Amr Abdellatif Aboulatta, Pakistan expressed `serious concern` over a treasury bill in the Indian parliament, titled `Geospatial Information Regulation Bill`, terming the move a `violation of international law` `The letter calls upon the United Nations to uphold the UNSC resolutions and urge India to stop such acts which are in violation of international law,` the Foreign Office said in a statement.

Pakistan`s principal concern over the legislation is that the official map of India shows disputed Kashmir as part of Indian territory which, the FO said, was `factually incorrect and legally untenable`.

The bill is also facing opposition from different groups and businesses within India, but fordifferent reasons. One chief concern is that the term geospatial data is too wide-ranging and will cover all depictions leading to serious complications.

The legislation will particularly create problems for online services.

The bill bans what it describes as `wrong information` and any indication of disputed international borders will be covered by the same provision. Violators, once the bill becomes an act, could face fines of up to $15 million.

The Indian external affairs ministry reacted sharply to the Pakistani letter and the FO statement and said Pakistan had no right to agitate the matter.

`The proposed bill is entirely an internal legislative matter of India, since the whole of the state of J&K is an integral part of India.

Pakistan or any other party has no locus standi in the matter,` the ministry`s spokesperson Vikas Swarup said.

`The government firmly rejectsPakistan`srepeatedand increasing attempts to impose on the international community matters that India has always been open to address bilaterally with Pakistan,` he further said.