Sir Creek

Sir Creek
Physical characteristics
Mouth
• location	Indian ocean
• coordinates	23°58′N 68°48′E
Basin features
River system	Indus river delta

Sir Creek , originally Ban Ganga, is a 96-km (60-mi) tidal estuary in the uninhabited marshlands of the Indus River Delta on the border between India and Pakistan. The creek flows into the Arabian Sea and separates Gujarat state in India from Sindh province in Pakistan. The long-standing India-Pakistan Sir Creek border dispute stems from the demarcation "from the mouth of Sir Creek to the top of Sir Creek, and from the top of Sir Creek eastward to a point on the line designated on the Western Terminus". From this point onward, the boundary is unambiguously fixed as defined by the Tribunal Award of 1968.

Etymology

Sir Creek was originally known as Ban Ganga. It was renamed Sir Creek after a representative of the British Raj.

Geography

This marshy area is home to Russell's vipers and scorpions, which makes the lives of border soldiers difficult. 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 to flamingoes and other migratory birds. The 24th parallel north passes through Sir Creek. Sir Creek is mainly fed by Nareri Lake, whose outlet joins the creek on its right bank. LBOD, a canal, also discharges water effluents into Sir Creek.

On the Pakistani side are several other creeks to the west of Sir Creek, most of which are part of the Keti Bunder South Wildlife Sanctuary.

Sir Creek lies just to the west of the Great Rann of Kutch area of India. On the Indian side, Sir Creek is one of the six main creeks in this area, the others being Vian Wari Creek (Vianbari and Viyanbari), Pir Sanai, Pabevari, Padala (16 km southeast from Sir Creek), and easternmost Kori (34 km southeast from Sir Creek). All of these creeks are within the undisputed territory of India, except the westernmost creek, Sir Creek, which is claimed by both India and Pakistan. These evershifting creeks exit Indian territory, enter Pakistan, reenter India, and vice versa, creating a hard-to-patrol, marshy wetland border with no physical barrier or fencing.

Two channels, the Harami Nala and Bondho Dhoro, are of specific concern to India for preventing infiltration and illegal activities. Vian Wari Creek (Vianbari and Viyanbari) on the Indian side enters Pakistan in the north, where is it called Harami Dhoro (bastard's stream); turns east and reenters India, where it is called Harami Nala (bastard's drain); then splits into two streams, one of which reenters Pakistan, which poses a strategic challenge for India for guarding against infiltration from Pakistan. The Bondho Dhoro channel, which enters India further north of Harami Nala in the Sujawal District of Sindh province of Pakistan, is another potential point of infiltration by boat. Chinese activities in the area are of concern, too, since China Bund just north of Bondho Dhoro was built with finances from China.

The Indian military Border Security Force (BSF) patrols Sir Creek up to midstream using floating border posts, amphibious vehicles, and foot travel by the Creek Crocodile Commandos. The coastal area of Sir Creek is manned by the Indian Coast Guard, and the larger open sea beyond is patrolled by the Indian Navy.

Indo-Pakistani Border Dispute

The Green Line is the boundary as claimed by Pakistan, the red line is the boundary as claimed by India. Map not to scale.

History

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.

In 1968, an international tribunal resolved the larger Great Rann of Kutch border claims of India and Pakistan, which also covered Sir Creek. In this resolution, India received 90% of its request and Pakistan received 10%. Elements of dispute remain in Sir Creek with conflicting claims from both sides. From 1997 to 2012, there have been twelve rounds of talks between the two nations, without a breakthrough. In 2008, in the fourth round, both sides agreed to a joint map of the area based on a joint survey. Steps to resolve the dispute included allocation, delimitation, demarcation, and administration. Since neither side has conceded ground, India has proposed that the maritime boundary could be demarcated first, as per the provisions of Technical Aspects of Law of Sea (TALOS). However, Pakistan has refused the proposal because it feels that the dispute should be resolved first. Pakistan has also proposed that the two sides go in for international arbitration, which India has refused. India maintains that under the bilateral Simla Agreement, all bilateral disputes should be resolved without the intervention of third parties.

The resolution by the 1968 tribunal demarcated the boundaries between the two nations, and Pakistan claims that the creek was included as part of Sindh, thus setting the boundary as the eastern flank of the creek. Pakistan lays claim to the entire creek as per paragraphs 9 and 10 of the Sindh Government Resolution of 1914 signed between the Government of Sindh Division and Rao Maharaj of Kutch.

India disagrees with Pakistan's claims because in 1908, when the dispute arose between the Sindh Division and Rao Maharaj, the whole area was under the legal jurisdiction of the Bombay Presidency of British India, including the Sindh Division and the territory of Rao Maharaj. The Sindh Division was separated from the Bombay Presidency only on 1 April 1936 when it became the Sindh Province. The government of the Bombay Presidency conducted a survey in 1911 and awarded a dispute resolution verdict in 1914 containing two contradictory paragraphs. Paragraph 9 of the verdict states that the border between Kutch and Sindh lies to the east of Sir Creek, whereas paragraph 10 of the verdict further qualifies that "since Sir Creek is navigable most of the year. According to international law and the thalweg principle, a boundary can only be fixed in the middle of the navigable channel, which meant that it has been divided between Sindh and Kutch, and thereby India and Pakistan." The text of the resolution suggests that the resolution was based on the thalweg principle. India supports its stance by citing the thalweg doctrine in international law. The thalweg legal principle states that if the border between two political entities is stated to be a waterway without further description (e.g. a median line, right bank, eastern shore, low tide line, etc.), the boundary follows the thalweg of that watercourse; in particular, the boundary follows the center of the principal navigable channel of the waterway (which is presumably the deepest part). If there are multiple navigable channels in a river, the one principally used for downstream travel (likely having the strongest current) is used. When the thalweg principle is applied, the UNCLOS (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea) supports India's position, which "would result in the shifting of the land/sea terminus point several kilometres to the detriment of Pakistan, leading in turn to a loss of several thousand square kilometres of its Exclusive Economic Zone under the United Nations Convention on Law of the Sea."

India further argues for 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. 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 that the creek is navigable at high tide, the thalweg principle is used for international boundaries in tidal waters, and 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 wetland territory that were historically part of their provinces.

Economic reasons for the dispute

Though the creek has little military value, it offers 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, defining the boundaries 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 fishers of both nations into each other's territories. In contrast to economic reasons described by India and Pakistan, fishers of both countries get trapped in conflict and their economic rights of earning are affected. The governments of India and Pakistan regularly arrest fishers of the other nation for crossing the boundary; however, a conventional fisher may not know where the boundary starts and ends in the sea. Wind flow, waves, and turbulence that move the boat in the sea add to this unawareness. UN law advocates a minimum penalty for this offense and release of boats, but the governments of India and Pakistan catch these fishers and keep them in prisons for a long time. Their release happens through the land boundary of India and Pakistan (Wagha border), so these fishers return to their home country without their boats.

Pakistan built the LBOD canal between 1987 and 1997 to collect agricultural saline water and industrial effluents generated in the area around the main Indus river. The LBOD canal discharges the saline and contaminated water into the Sir Creek for disposal to the sea without contaminating the freshwater available in the Indus River. However, the LBOD construction is in violation of the Indus Waters Treaty (Article IV), causing material damage (i.e. inundating the creek area exposed during the low tide) to India. Thus Pakistan has an economic interest in keeping the dispute alive and not settled as per international conventions. If India is physically holding (partially or fully) the water area of the creek, India can settle the LBOD dispute as per the arbitration procedure available in the Indus Waters Treaty.

Incidents

The Atlantique incident

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

After the incident, Pakistan Marine units were deployed in the region, with sizable SAMs active in the region. In 1999, the Marines reportedly fired an errant missile on an Indian Air Force MiG-21FL, which narrowly missed. Additional marine battalions and sniper recon units have been deployed in the Sir Creek region.

Military buildup and terrorist alert

See also: Pakistan and state-sponsored terrorism

From June 2019, several newspapers reported that Pakistan had rapidly built up forces at Sir Creek, and India swiftly responded likewise. After the 1999 shooting down of Pak Navy Atlantique aircraft used for maritime security, surveillance and reconnaissance, Pakistan deployed its 31st Creek Battalion, headquartered at Sujawal and responsible for the area from Haji Moro Jat Creek in the north to Korangi Creek Cantonment in Karachi in the south. In 2019, Pakistan also deployed the 32nd Creek Battalion, headquartered at Gharo, with the view to increase the troop strength to three brigades by deploying more infantry and amphibious battalions. Pakistan has procured 6 coastal defense boats for coastal surveillance, and 4 of 18 newly acquired marine assault crafts will be deployed in the Sir Creek. Pakistan is planning to buy 60 more naval ships, including hovercrafts and offshore petrol boats. Pakistan has also set up two new Marine posts west of Pir Samadhi Creek in the area of Bandha Dhora and Harami Dhoro to counter Indian Army and Indian naval troops and missile boats. Pakistan also has its 21st Air Defense unit and three marine units at Gwadar Port as well as the Jinnah Naval Base at Ormarato prevent any possible Indian Navy and Indian Air Force attack. Pakistan has also boosted its air defense with an enhanced radar network, air defense missiles, radar operated guns, four Lockheed P-3 Orion anti-submarine and maritime surveillance aircraft, and two ATR aircraft stationed at Pakistan Air Force's PAF Base Masroor in Karachi and PNS Mehran naval airbase to counter mighty Indian Naval Aircraft Carriers and strong and powerful Indian Navy. Indian Navy to counter P-3 aircrafts of Pak Navy procured most modern, powerful jet aircrafts from USA and became the first international customer for the P-8 aircraft with the conclusion of the nearly US $ 2.1 billion contract on 01 Jan 2009 for a total of eight aircraft. The first aircraft arrived in India on the 15 May 2013 and as of date; all eight aircraft have been inducted into the Indian Navy and are fully integrated into its operations to be deployed and used against Pakistan and Chinese Navy.

The Indian Navy will get its additional P8I submarine killer, maritime reconnaissance aircraft starting July 2020, with work being initiated at the Boeing facility here to deliver an updated version of the combat plane to challenge and neutralise growing Pakistan’s influence in the region, which is continuously increasing after 1971. First by Vice Admiral H M S Chaudhary, later on by Admiral Mohammad Shariff (who was POW in East Pakistan) expanded exponentially Pak Navy when he took over the command in mid 70s, followed aggressively by his trained and trust worthy Lieutenants notably Admiral Karamat Rehman Niazi and Admiral Tariq Kamal Khan and later on to some extent by all the admirals till to date are following Admiral Shareef’s Secret doctrine of modernising and making a Blue Water Pakistan Navy against India and Indian Navy and Indian Air Force in the Indian Ocean. As it is well said, He who dominates the seas, will dominate the world.But to fulfill the dreams, Pakistan does not have the financial means nor technical know how to match powerful Indian Navy nor it seems they can achieve in the next 50 years too.

Indian Navy P-8 has the most advanced communication and sensor suite which includes indigenous equipment developed by defence PSUs and private manufacturers. Equipped with foreign and indigenous sensors for maritime reconnaissance, anti-submarine operations and electronic intelligence missions, the aircraft is fully integrated with state-of-the-art sensors and highly potent anti-surface and anti-submarine weapons.

P-8 aircrafts of Indian Navy have a maximum speed of 907 kmph and an operating range of over 1,200 nautical miles, "with four hours on station", the P-8Is will be able to detect "threats" of Pakistan Navy as well as Chinese Navy in the region — and neutralise them if required — far before they come anywhere near Indian shores.

To counter Pakistan Navy growing influence in the Indian Ocean and in the region and gain maximum control of strategic sea routes Indian Navy P-8 is armed with deadly Harpoon Block-II missiles, MK-54 lightweight torpedoes, rockets and depth charges, these sensor and radar-packed aircraft are the country's "intelligent hawk eyes" over the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) that is increasingly getting militarized.

The boost to the Indian Naval fleet will come at a time when the Chinese Peoples Liberation Army Navy (PLAN),in collaboration with Pakistan Navy has been growing at a scorching pace over the past decade, is projected to have over 70 submarines in service.

As of September 2019, the Navy's sub-surface fleet includes one nuclear-powered attack submarine, one ballistic missile submarine,20 conventionally-powered attack submarines, modern, sophisticated than Pakistan Navy submarine force. The conventional attack submarines of the Indian Navy consist of the Kalvari (French Scorpène-class submarine design), the Sindhughosh (Russian Kilo-class submarine design) and the Shishumar (German Type 209/1500 design) classes, one of the most lethal and deadly stealth submarines in India’s arsenal.

Indian Navy to counter Pakistan’s Submarines fleet also possesses a single Akula-class nuclear-powered attack submarine named INS Chakra, no match to Pakistan Navy. Single submarine can neutralise or choke Pakistan Maritime routes. She is under lease to India for a period of ten years. Three hundred Indian Navy personnel were trained in Russia for the operation of these submarines which Pakistan Navy has no match, nor human skill or intellectualism to operate these type of hi-tech submarines. Negotiations are on with Russia for the lease of the second Akula-class submarine which once commissioned in the Indian Navy would be a much greater deterrence against Pakistan and it’s small but weak navy that has not control over Indian Ocean nor over Arabian Sea against mighty Indian Navy.

To counter China and Pakistan Navy-Indian Navy Satellite program:

India's first exclusive defence satellite GSAT-7 was successfully launched by European space consortium Arianespace's rocket from Kourou spaceport in French Guiana in August 2013. GSAT-7 was fabricated by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) to serve for at least seven years in its orbital slot at 74°E, providing UHF, S-band, C-band and Ku-band relay capacity. Its Ku-band allows high-density data transmission, including both audio and video. This satellite also has a provision to reach smaller and mobile terminals.

On 15 June 2019 the mighty Indian Navy placed an order for GSAT-7R satellite as a replacement for GSAT-7. The satellite costs Rs 1589 crores (US$225.5 million) and is expected to be launched by 2020 which would give us a strategic edge for years to come against Pakistan Navy and Chinese Navy growing influence in the region.

Aircraft carrier program of Indian Navy to counter Pakistan Navy:

The Mikoyan MiG-29K program was revived by Russia in response to the decision of the Indian Navy to acquire the Soviet aircraft carrier Admiral Gorshkov. It was due to Indian Navy aircraft carrier operations during the 71 war, that Indian Navy blocked Bay of Bengal with one aircraft carrier and Pakistani armed forces supply line were completely cut from West Pakistan which played a pivotal role in neutralising Pakistani armed forces and most important blocking all its ports and sea routes. In order to maintain strategic advantage over Pakistan today, Indian Navy is effectively and efficiently analysing the threats posed by Pakistan and making the defence of the country strong by acquiring the best arsenal and weapons platforms available in the market to maintain a competitive edge against arch rival Pakistan and China which invaded our borders in 1962.

As reported by MiG Bureau, the Indian Navy's association with the MiG-29K began in Apr 2002 when a team led by Commander Gupta reached Moscow to evaluate the MiG-29K prototype for possible induction into the Indian Navy. The Team evaluated the aircraft on ground as well as in the air (the flight evaluation was conducted by a Navy Test Pilot Commander Ahuja). Some other aircraft were also evaluated but the MiG-29K was chosen. On 20 January 2004, the Indian Navy signed a contract for 12 single-seat MiG-29K and 4 two-seat MiG-29KUB. The first MIG-29K for the Indian Navy took flight on 22 January 2007. The MIG-29 KUB (two-seat trainer) is similar to the MIG-29K but with reduced operational range. The aircraft will be fielded on the aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya.

The first squadron, INAS 303, the "Black Panthers", was commissioned on 11 May 2013.The delivery of the aircraft to the Indian Navy started in 2009, and by July 2015, 33 had been inducted, with 12 more to be delivered.

The fighter plane is different from the MiG-29 flown by Indian Air Force. The aircraft has been modified for aircraft carrier operation by hardening the undercarriage. It also has much better 'over-the-nose' vision to make it easy to land aboard a carrier at a high angle of attack.

Indian Navy Aircraft Carrier major role to win war against Pakistan during 1971:

The Vikrant’s role was to maintain a naval blockade of East Pakistan—preventing the Pakistani Army from dispatching reinforcements or evacuating by sea. Once the ground campaign began—a lightning campaign in which helicopters and amphibious tanks were used to leap-frog across East Pakistan’s many rivers—the Vikrant’s air wing would focus on hammering Pakistani naval assets and port facilities.

The air wing’s main combat strength came from INAS 300 “White Tiger” squadron, equipped with eighteen Sea Hawk fighter bombers. With a maximum speed of 600 miles per hour, these would have been outclassed had they encountered the handful of F-86 Sabre’s the Pakistani Air Force had deployed to East Pakistan, but their true potential lay as stable ground-attack platforms armed with four 20-millimeter Hispano cannons, and up to four 500-pound bombs or sixteen 5” rockets.

The lumpy three-ma Alize patrol planes of INAS 310 “Cobra” Squadron were foremost designed to search for submarines using air-dropped sonobuoys and surface-search radar (to catch subs that were surfaced or snorkeling to recharge batteries) and then sink them with depth charges and homing torpedoes. However, they also could be adapted to a more conventional attack role carrying 68-millimeter rockets and bombs.

The Pakistani Navy concluded a lack of facilities and geographic vulnerability made it impractical to deploy major warships to East Pakistan, so its presence there was limited to squadron of four gunboats as well as smaller armed boats capable of navigating Bangladesh’s many rivers. Thus, the major naval battles of Indo-Pakistani war were fought on India’s western flank.

Once PNS Ghazi was out from operations in East Pakistan, the sinking left mighty Indian Navy aircraft carrier Vikrant with a free hand. Starting December 4, her Sea Hawks and Alizes flew nearly 300 sorties hammering Chittagong, Cox’s Bazar and Khulna, sinking numerous small ships and setting fuel stores on fire. One tanker in Chittagong was blasted into three segments.

Indian Navy Aviation Fleet:

Multi-Role Carrier Borne Fighters": In late January 2017, the Indian Navy released an international Request for Information (RFI) for 57 "Multi-Role Carrier Borne Fighters" (MRCBFs), asking for responses by mid-May. The envisaged roles include shipborne air defence, air-to-surface attack, buddy aerial refueling, reconnaissance, electronic warfare, etc. The requirements are flexible, including single- or multi-engine, short take-off but arrested recovery (STOBAR) or catapult-assisted take-off but arrested recovery (CATOBAR), or both. Armaments are to include a gun plus four beyond-visual-range air-to-air missiles and two all-aspect air-to-air missiles. Other technical capabilities and inclusions are to be assessed. The main contest is between Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet and Dassault Rafale-M which would penetrate deeper into Pakistan’s defences and Pakistan doesn’t have enough modern, hi tech fighter jets to challenge Indian Naval might in the Indian Ocean.

Indian Navy Modern Helicopters orders:

In August 2017, the Indian Navy floated request-for-information for 123 naval multi-role helicopters (NMRHs) and 111 naval utility helicopters (NUHs). Once operational, Pakistan Navy combined with Pakistan Airforce would be no match to mighty Indian Navy. Salute to visionary Prime Minister Narendar Modee who is modernising Indian Navy and Indian armed forces at a very fast pace.

V-22 Osprey – with Boeing BDS: In 2015 the Indian Aviation Research Centre (ARC) became interested in acquiring V-22s for personnel evacuation in hostile conditions, logistic supplies, and deployment of the Special Frontier Force (SFF) in border areas. India had seen it perform in relief operations of the April 2015 Nepal earthquake.[65] Elements of the Indian Navy have also looked at the V-22 rather than the E-2D for Airborne early warning and control to replace the short-range Kamov Ka-31.

Indian Navy UAVs:

The IAI-HAL NRUAV is a requirement for an unmanned helicopter capable of conducting ISR missions. In June 2017, US administration cleared sale of 22 Sea Guardian drones to India.

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In 2018, India's BSF caught 14 boats in the Bandha Dhora and Harami Dhoro channels of the creek. Each one was screened to ascertain if they were ordinary fishers and India propagated false allegations against Pakistan in media that they might be terrorists as India falsely accused in the past when it planted its own native people and claimed terrorists came from Pakistan, where as, none of them were Pakistani Muslims 2008 Mumbai attacks and Indian Defence ministry, Foreign Affairs and Home ministry falsely accused Pakistan that these terrorists had entered India after launching their boat from this general area of Pakistan, where as Pakistan Navy, Army & Marines actively patrol this region since IAF shot down Pakistan Navy surveillance aircraft in which Pakistan Navy officers and sailors sacrificed their lives to protect the mother land and became victim of an unprovoked and surprised attack on a surveillance and training aircraft involved in a routine surveillance mission. The Atlantique aircraft of Pak Navy was without any escort of fighter jets. Thus Pakistan Navy, PAF & Pak Army have maintained a strict vigilance along Sir Creek and coastal line for any intrusion, but Indian coward Armed Forces are daily involved in planning against Pakistan and it’s civilised nation. There could never have been a possibility anything could have happened from Pakistan’s side where terrorists to come from our side, Pakistani muslims are highly educated, intellectual, civilised, cultured, disciplined and follow the teachings of their dear Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and Quran. The boats drama was a well planned tactical move by RAW and Indian armed forces to malign Pakistan and justify war against civilised & responsible Pakistani nation. as On 9 September 2019, after abandoned boats were found by the Indian Army in Sir Creek, which Pakistan strongly believes were Indian boats and a master mind plan designed by Indian Naval Intelligence, for any future misadventure against Pakistan , and all its roots lead to PM of India Narendar Modee who hate Muslims and who during his tenure as governor of Gujarat, had ordered to massacre Muslims, and rape Muslim as well as Christian women. India after doing this drama of boats found at their side of Sir Creek, issued an alert regarding a potential terror attack as Indian Air Force and military are looking for an excuse to strike against brave Pakistani nation since Pakistan Air Force shot its Mig-21 , Mig-29 and helicopter in the February 2019 and capturing Indian Air Force coward and incompetent pilot, Wing Commander Abhi Nandan (who needs to take some fighter pilot lessons from PAF how to be a fighter pilot) for violating Pakistani airspace.

See also

• Indo-Pakistani wars and conflicts

Further reading

• Bharat Bhushan, Tulbul, Sir Creek and Siachen: Competitive Methodologies, South Asian Journal, No.7 Jan-Mar 2005 accessed at [1] July 26, 2006
• Indo-Pak composite dialogue: No movement on Sir Creek talks, By Zahid Gishkori, Express Tribune, Published: May 22, 2011

External links

• India, Pakistan in border talks BBC December 22, 2006