Sir Creek is a 96 km (60 mi) tidal estuary on the border of India and Pakistan.

The creek, which

opens up into the Arabian sea, divides the Gujrat state of India from the Sindh province o f
Pakistan. Sir creek issue basically water disputed between Pakistan and India in Rann of
kutch 60 mi long. This flows the Arabian Sea. It divides kutch region of India state Gujarat ,
Sindh region of Pakistan. This region belonging to India is a part of the Indus River Delta most
of which lies in Sindh, Pakistan.The creek itself is located in uninhabited marshlands of the
Indus Delta just to the West of the Great Rann of Kutch. During the Monsoon season between
June and September, the creek floods its banks and envelops the low-lying salty mudflats
around it.During the Winter season, the area is home flamingoes and other migratory birds.

The dispute lies in the interpretation of the maritime boundary line between Pakistan and India.
Before independence, the area was part of British India. After independence in 1947, Sindh
became a part of Pakistan while Gujarat remained a part of India.

The Green line proclaimed by Pakistan and Red line proclaimed by India and Black line
is an undisputed section. Kutch was the part of sindh before the division of India
afterwards. It was included in the Bombay presidency. Resolution which mark boundaries
between two territories as a part of whole the Creek part of sindh thus the
surrounding boundary eastern at the side of Creek. The boundary line is known as the
“Green Line” is dispute by India which cause that is “Indicative Line” known as “ribbon
line” technical jargon.

India argues in her support by a refereeing Thalweg Doctrine . The law provides that a
river can be divided from its mid channel if two nations are agreed upon the dividence.
Pakistan rejects the laws by advocating that the law is not applicable because Sir Creek
is not navigable but it respect 1925 map. India insists that Sir Creek is navigable in high
tied situation and fisherman use it to go to open seas Pakistan does not honor Thalweg
Doctrine if international law because she has to gave up thousands of kilometers of
territory. The area contributed to Indo Pak war of 1965 because a Skirmish was broke
out between two states in April 1965 though in same year tribunal was setup by to
resolve the issue due struggle British Prime Minster Harold Wilson in a verdict Pakistan
got 35 hundred square miles of its claim again Indians air force’s MiG 21 short naval
air arm breguet Atlantique patrol plane in Atlantic region of Sir Creek 10th August 1999.
The resolution, which demarcated the boundaries between the one territories, included the
creek as part of Sindh, thus setting the boundary as the eastern flank of the creek. India sticks
to its position that the boundary lies mid-channel as depicted in another map drawn in 1925,
and implemented by the installation of mid-channel pillars back in 1924.
India supports its stance by citing the thalweg doctrine in international law. The law states that
river boundaries between two states may be, if the two states agree, divided by the mid-
channel. Though Pakistan does not dispute the 1925 map, it maintains that the doctrine is not
applicable in this case as it most commonly applies to non-tidal rivers, and Sir Creek is a tidal
estuary. India rejects the Pakistani stance by maintaining the fact that the creek is navigable at
high tide and that the thalweg principle is used for some international boundaries in tidal
waters, and that fishing trawlers use Sir Creek to go out to sea. Another point of concern for
Pakistan is that Sir Creek has changed its course considerably over the years. If the boundary
line is demarcated according to the thalweg principle applied to the current channel, Pakistan
and India would both lose small amounts of wetlands territory that was historically part of their
provinces.

Pakistan’s stance on Sir Creek is of historical and legal value whereas India has been playing
around with different maritime principles and definitions to twist the facts in her favour and
employ delaying tactics to avoid an obvious solution. During 12 rounds of talks on the Sir Creek
issue, Indians have shown contradicting and self-opposing views on their stance either mid of
navigable channel or geographical mid of creek. Pakistan’s stance on Sir Creek has always
remained consistent that the boundary is East Bank of the creek on vertical segment till top of
Sir Creek and from there due east following blue dotted line till it joins boundary pillar BP-1175.
India, however, has shifted her stance repeatedly.

land boundary and land terminus point as per the spirit of 1914 resolution needs to be
established for onward delimitation of maritime space.
Recently Pakistan has Orientation of creek over the years has changed in both east and west
direction. Determination of become the first country in the region to extend its sea limits from
200 to 350 nautical miles, after years of dedicated efforts and successful technical pursuance of
the case at the UN. Sea area of Pakistan has immense potential in the shape of living and non-
living resources. As such it is in favour of both countries to have their maritime boundaries
resolved to transfer full socio-economic benefits of sea resources to their masses. It is high time
for the government of India to acknowledge the facts as no propaganda can change the history.

Atlantic incident
This disputed region is known for the Atlantique Incident which occurred on August 1999. The
Indian IAF's MiG-21FL fighters shot down the Pakistan Navy's recconnaisance plane, the
Breguet Atlantique which was carrying 16 naval officers on board, for an alleged airspace
violation of Indian airspace on August 10, 1999. The episode took place just a month after the
Kargil War, creating a tense atmosphere between India and Pakistan.

After the incident, the Pakistan Marines units have been deployed in the region, with a sizable
SAMs active in the region. In 1999, the Marines reportedly fired an errant missile on Indian Af’S
MiG-21FL which they narrowly missed. Additional marines battalions and sniper recon units have
been deployed in the Sir Creek region.

Economic reasons

Though the creek has little military value, it holds immense economic gain. Much of the region
is rich in oil and gas below the sea bed, and control over the creek would have a huge bearing
on the energy potential of each nation. Also once the boundaries are defined, it would help in
the determination of the maritime boundaries which are drawn as an extension of onshore
reference points. Maritime boundaries also help in determining the limits of Exclusive Economic
Zones (EEZs) and continental shelves. EEZs extend to 200 nautical miles (370 km) and can be
subjected to commercial exploitation.[

The demarcation would also prevent the inadvertent crossing over of fishermen of both nations
into each other's territories.

In contrary to economic reasons described by India and Pakistan, common fishermen of both
countries get trapped in conflict and their economic rights of earning get affected. It has seen
that government of India and Pakistan regularly arrest fishermen of each other for crossing the
boundary, however for a common fisherman, it is always a wonder to know where the
boundary starts and ends in sea. This unawareness are added with wind flow, waves and
turbulence that push the boat in sea. While UN law advocates for minimum penalty for this
offence and release of boats, but government of India and Pakistan catch these prisoners and
keep them in prisons for long time. It is more unfortunate that their release happens through
land boundary of India and Pakistan and these poor fishermen come to their home country
without their boats.

To conclude the issue of Sir Creek is one of the many between India and Pakistan.
Though small in quantum but large in potential to cause an unlucky event leading to
war. It is the responsibility of the both government to avoid any such untoward incident
and that can be avoided only if the problem is erased. Its solution would be a great
helping hand for the resolution of all disputes and ushering an age of peace in the
region. The current developments appear to be heading in the light direction. The
Stalwarts in New Delhi and Islamabad seem to have realized the transformed situation.
It can be hoped that both would learn to live peacefully and securing resolution of all
problems through dialogue and talks. It is in the interest of all.