SIR CREEK DISPUTE (INDIA–PAKISTAN)

03.10.2025

SIR CREEK DISPUTE (INDIA–PAKISTAN)

Context

At the centre of renewed attention, India’s Defence Minister Rajnath Singh recently made a strong statement regarding the Sir Creek region in Gujarat’s Rann of Kutch. The area, a long-standing point of contention between India and Pakistan, has resurfaced in strategic discourse due to Pakistan’s military activities and the estuary’s growing geopolitical significance.

What it is?

Sir Creek is a 96 km-long tidal estuary in the marshy Rann of Kutch, Gujarat. Though resembling a shallow river, it is subject to tidal flows and fluctuating depths. It forms part of the international boundary between India and Pakistan, separating:

• India’s Gujarat State (Kutch district)
   
• Pakistan’s Sindh Province
   

Its importance is magnified because control of the creek determines maritime boundaries and Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZ) in the Arabian Sea.

Dispute and Claims

The dispute stems from contradictory interpretations of colonial-era agreements:

• India’s Claim: Based on the 1914 Bombay Government Resolution, the creek was assigned to the Ruler of Kutch, confirming Indian sovereignty.
   
• Pakistan’s Claim: Advocates the Thalweg Principle (the deepest navigable channel of a river defines the boundary), arguing that the midline of the creek should be the border.
   
• Unlike the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu & Kashmir, the border demarcation at Sir Creek remains unresolved, leaving scope for maritime disagreements.

Location and Strategic Landscape

• Region: Rann of Kutch, Gujarat (India) and Sindh (Pakistan)
   
• Length: 96 km estuary
   
• Proximity: Less than 200 km from Karachi, Pakistan’s economic hub
   
• Economic Relevance:
   
  • Rich fishing grounds vital for coastal communities
     
  • Suspected reserves of oil and natural gas
     
• Security Dimension: Maritime access via Sir Creek could expose Pakistan’s coastline, including Karachi, to strategic vulnerabilities.

Recent Developments

• Indian Statement: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh warned that any aggression by Pakistan at Sir Creek could change the “history and geography” of the region.
   
• Pakistan’s Activity: Reported military infrastructure buildup near the area, raising security concerns for India.
   
• Current Indian Posture:
   
  • Troops and the Border Security Force (BSF) remain on heightened alert.
     
  • India emphasizes preventing escalation but retains readiness to counter cross-border terrorism and aggression.

India’s Diplomatic Efforts

• India has repeatedly sought bilateral talks to peacefully resolve the issue.
   
• Pakistan’s inconsistent approach and reluctance to compromise have kept the dispute alive.
   
• Despite tensions, India continues to underline the need for diplomacy while safeguarding national interests.

Significance of the Dispute

• Strategic: Control of Sir Creek influences access routes towards Karachi and regional naval security.
   
• Economic: Fishing resources and possible hydrocarbon deposits add high economic stakes.
   
• Geopolitical: Sir Creek remains one of the few undefined borders post-independence, symbolising broader India–Pakistan rivalry.

Conclusion

The Sir Creek dispute exemplifies how a narrow estuary can hold outsized strategic, economic, and geopolitical weight. While India anchors its claims in historical and legal precedent, Pakistan continues to push alternative interpretations. With rising military tensions and rich resources at stake, Sir Creek is more than a cartographic disagreement — it is a test of stability, diplomacy, and maritime security in South Asia.