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| Rajnath Singh issued big warning to Pakistan over misadventure in Sir Creek area |
On Thursday, defence Minister Rajnath Singh gave a stern warning to Pakistan, threatening that in case of any misadventure in the Sir Creek sector it would face a decisive attack that could alter history as well as geography. This is his statement at a time when Pakistan is reportedly increasing its military force in and around the disputed region, a move that worsens historic tensions between the two nations.
What is Sir Creek?
Sir Creek is a tidal estuary that is 96 kilometres in length in the marshlands in the India-Pakistan border. It divides Gujarat in India with Sindh in Pakistan and enters the Arabian Sea. Outwardly, it seems like a distant and dry belt of land, yet its value is much more immense considering that it connects with maritime boundaries, oil and gas reserves, and Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs) control.
The Root of the Dispute
Sir Creek is a dispute that can be traced back to 1947 Partition. Sindh was incorporated in Pakistan and Gujarat was retained by India, the ownership of the creek remained undecided. An international tribunal award in 1968 resolved most of the border dispute over the Rann of Kutch but left the Sir Creek in dispute to interpretation.
Pakistan argues that the creek is completely within the boundary of Sindh, citing a 1914 resolution which indicated the boundary on the eastern bank. India however states that the same resolution invoked the thalweg principle which delimits boundaries along the mid-channel of navigable bodies of water. To back its position, India refers to a map of 1925 and mid-channel pillars of the boundary. Pakistan is objecting to this on the basis that the thalweg principle is not applicable to tidal estuaries such as Sir Creek.
The shifting nature of the creek also adds to the situation since any changes in geography changes the maritime boundaries and EEZs of both countries.
Economic and Strategic Significance.
Sir Creek is of little direct military value, but the economic and strategic value of this port is enormous. The creek control is what dictates the presence of potential oil and gas reserves and also affects the delimitation of EEZs in the Arabian Sea. To local fishers, boundaries that are not always clear will produce accidental crossings that translate to arrests and a long period of detention on both parties.
The Left Bank Outfall Drain (LBOD) canal that flows out to Sir Creek releases salty and industrial wastes, further complicating the issue. India believes that it has violated the Indus Waters Treaty, whereas Pakistan is using this as a strategic tool to stretch out the conflict.
Rising Tensions
In 2019, Pakistan has rapidly deployed more military forces to Sir Creek, with Creek Battalions, coastal defence boats, and marine assault crafts. Other naval bases, spy cameras and missile launchers have been established too. India has also retaliated as was seen in the 2008 attacks on Mumbai in which the attackers utilized the Arabian Sea route which links this region.
The warning of Rajnath Singh is an indication that there is growing concern about such developments. Talking at a public gathering at Bhuj, Gujarat, during the Dussehra festivals, Singh claimed that Pakistan had ill intentions of its own and that India was not willing to engaged in dialogue. He also reminded Pakistan about the 1965 war to remind it that one of the routes to Karachi runs through the creek.
Conclusion
Sir Creek, an issue between India and Pakistan, still remains to date more than 78 years unresolved after the Independence. It might seem to be of minor geographical significance, but the estuary bears huge strategic and economic burden. As military infrastructure in the region is being strengthened by both countries, the conflict has come back into the limelight of the regional security issues. The emphatic language used by Singh also highlights India determination that no provocation will be left without response that is powerful enough to change
the equation in South Asia.
