Sir Creek: Site of decades-long India-Pakistan border dispute, Pg12.

Key Highlights:

• Defence Minister Rajnath Singh warned Pakistan against any "misadventure" in Sir Creek, citing increased Pakistani military infrastructure.
• Sir Creek is a 96-km tidal estuary between Gujarat (India) and Sindh (Pakistan), strategically and economically important.
• Pakistan claims the entirety of Sir Creek, while India claims the boundary should be the mid-channel.
• The Sir Creek dispute impacts the delimitation of Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs) in the Arabian Sea.

Detailed Insights:

• Sir Creek's strategic importance stems from its proximity to Karachi, with Pakistan building military installations post Operation Sindoor.
• India maintains a strong military presence in Sir Creek due to concerns about terror attacks and drug smuggling.
• The region is believed to hold untapped oil and gas reserves, crucial for both countries, especially India's diversification efforts.
• The dispute's origins lie in a 20th-century argument between Kutch and Sindh, escalating after the 1965 India-Pakistan War.
• Bilateral discussions since 1989 have failed to resolve the dispute, with the last formal talks in June 2012.
• A comprehensive bilateral dialogue, including Sir Creek, was agreed upon in December 2015 but stalled due to the Pathankot attack in January 2016.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Thalweg Principle: Boundary demarcation that uses the mid-channel of a navigable watercourse as the border.
• Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ): Area extending 200 nautical miles from a nation's coast, granting resource jurisdiction.
• Simla Accord: Agreement between India and Pakistan signed in 1972, stipulating bilateral resolution of disputes.