SYLLABUS

GS-2: India and its neighbourhood- relations

Context:

Recently, the Union Defence Minister warned Pakistan that any misadventure or provocation in the Sir Creek region would invite a strong and decisive response from India. 

More on the News

• The statement was made at the Bhuj military base, where the Union Defence minister said that any Pakistani misadventure in the Sir Creek area would draw a severe Indian response capable of changing “both history and geography.”
• This warning comes amid heightened India-Pakistan tensions following the Pahalgam attacks and Operation Sindoor, along with rising cross-border activities.

About Sir Creek 

It is a 96-km-long tidal estuary located between Kutch in Gujarat (India) and Sindh province (Pakistan).

It is a muddy, uninhabited marshland in the Rann of Kutch that opens into the Arabian Sea.

This creek, originally called Ban Ganga, was renamed Sir Creek after a British official during the colonial period.

• A creek is a narrow piece of water where the sea flows into the land.

About the Sir Creek Dispute 

The dispute arises from differing interpretations of colonial-era boundary demarcations between India and Pakistan, further complicated by the shifting course of the Indus River over time.

1908: Dispute arises between Rao of Kutch and the Government of Sindh over the creek area.

1914: Government of Bombay issues a resolution addressing the boundary between Sindh and Kutch, but does not settle the Sir Creek issue completely.

Post-Partition (1947 onwards): The dispute resurfaces following India-Pakistan partition, gaining momentum after the 1965 Indo-Pak war.

1965: Under the 1965 Agreement for Determination of the Border, the dispute is referred to a UN tribunal. 

• The tribunal accepts 90% of India’s claims in the Rann of Kutch, granting limited areas to Pakistan.

1968: Report of the Indo-Pakistan Western Boundary Tribunal excludes Sir Creek, leaving the issue unresolved.

1997: India and Pakistan resume dialogue specifically to discuss the Sir Creek map.

2005–2007: Both nations conduct hydrographic surveys and exchange data and charts, but no final agreement is reached.

Significance of Sir Creek

Strategic Importance: 

• Sir Creek holds high strategic value for both India and Pakistan. 
• Control over this area allows better surveillance and protection of the western coastline.
• The Gulf of Kutch hosts India’s major ports, Mundra and Kandla, increasing the region’s strategic weight.
• Chinese-backed infrastructure projects on the Pakistani side raise concerns over potential dual-use (civilian-to-military) applications.

Counter-Terrorism Concerns: 

• Sir Creek is viewed as a potential route for infiltration. 
• During the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, terrorists reportedly used the sea route from Karachi, highlighting the need for enhanced maritime security in this region.

Economic Significance: 

• The creek is believed to contain untapped oil and gas reserves. 
• For India, particularly energy-import-dependent, exploration could reduce external dependence and strengthen energy security.

Maritime Boundary and EEZs: 

• The Sir creek dispute affects the delimitation of the Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs) in the Arabian Sea. 
• A settled boundary would determine the jurisdiction over marine and seabed resources extending up to 200 nautical miles.

Source:
Indian Express
Indian Express
DD News