The Sir Creek India-Pakistan dispute has resurfaced after Defence Minister Rajnath Singh warned Islamabad. This maritime conflict has security, economic, and strategic implications.
The long-standing Sir Creek dispute between India and Pakistan has resurfaced after Defence Minister Rajnath Singh issued a grave warning to Islamabad that New Delhi would respond with seriousness if anything was done in the disputed area that would “change the dimensions of history and geography”.
What Is the Sir Creek India-Pakistan Dispute?
Sir Creek is a 60-mile-long, narrow tidal estuary in the Rann of Kutch along the Gujarat-Sindh border. The dispute arose from the competing claims to the maritime boundary. India claims that the maritime boundary must follow the mid-channel of the creek, based on the universally accepted Thalweg principle; Pakistan claims that the boundary is on the eastern bank.
The dispute dates back before independence, which included some minor skirmishes in 1908 over firewood and a Circular decision by the Bombay administration in 1914. To substantiate its position, India relies on a map of 1925, while Pakistan contends that it is relying on documents from the colonial period.https://www.durham.ac.uk/research/
The Strategic Importance of Sir Creek
Control of Sir Creek impacts a maritime boundary and strategic defence. Indian control prevents a potential incursion and secures access to the Karachi Port, which is a valuable maritime point. Theoretical control of Sir Creek by Pakistan would allow a pincer move to strike simultaneously in the Kashmir region and along the Rajasthan/Punjab border.
Finally, in addition to military factors, Sir Creek is one of the largest fishing grounds in Asia, which provides income for thousands. The area also potentially has undersea oil and gas deposits that Pakistan is pursuing arrangements with the United States to access.
The Buildup of Military Forces in Pakistan and India’s Response
Recent reports reflect that Pakistan has improved its defenses along the creek by establishing an integrated defense infrastructure, such as bunkers, radars, and forward bases that would allow for drone or infantry operations to take place. India’s Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said India remains interested in peace talks but added that Pakistan’s intentions still seem questionable and ambiguous.
The Indian Army and Border Security Force (BSF) patrol the area heavily and will remain vigilant against violations of India’s maritime and territorial integrity. Singh underlined that if Pakistan violated India’s integrity, India would respond with overwhelming force.
Economic and Security Issues
The Sir Creek area also exhibits vulnerability with respect to economic and security assurances. There are cross-border issues, encroachments of fisheries, and the potential for terrorist actions, which develop an unstable situation in Sir Creek. In September 2019, a couple of abandoned ships corroborated the supposition that special forces based out of Pakistan were preparing for a terrorist action against Gujarat. From the intelligence perspectives, organizations like Jaish-e-Mohammed are preparing cadres for these actions, including possible underwater actions on an intruding basis on India’s coastline.
The unresolved boundary complicates access to both fishing and oil and gas reserves. Accordingly, India is aiming to strike a balance on its energy requirements; for example, it still has a cheap foundation source of energy from oil imports from Russia, while remaining especially alert to Pakistan’s strategic framework.
Diplomatic Initiatives on Sir Creek India Pakistan
India has proposed a median/equidistance consideration of delimiting the sea and commenced six rounds of negotiations since 1989. Probably because Pakistan is known to make unilateral comments to the pending negotiations, which India will outright refuse to consider, Singh emphasized India will always attempt to look for a constructive way to dialogue, but if provocation occurs, it also will use strength.
In conclusion, as noted, Sir Creek is an important flashpoint in India-Pakistan relations with ramifications beyond physical settlements as it relates to security at sea, India’s economic interests, and stability in the region. With India’s position being steadfast, as supported by its reluctant defensive forces, any new incursions by Pakistan will likely have a strong Indian response to the threat to its territorial integrity, as well as detrimental impacts to Pakistan’s already limited sea-based naval operational deployments.
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