The Hindu : International / India & World : Joint survey of boundary pillars in Sir Creek planned

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Dec 15, 2004

International

International - India & World

Joint survey of boundary pillars in Sir Creek planned

By B. Muralidhar Reddy

ISLAMABAD, DEC. 14. India and Pakistan have agreed on conducting a joint survey of the boundary pillars in the disputed Sir Creek area.

According to sources, the survey will start in January first week and is likely to be completed in a year. The survey results would be useful in resolving the dispute over boundary demarcation in the Sir Creek, a 96-km-long strip of water between the Rann of Kutch (in India) and Sindh (in Pakistan).

Understanding on the dates for the survey was arrived at a meeting of the defence officials of both sides. An official statement said the talks, as part of the ongoing composite dialogue process on issues related to the Sir Creek, were held in ``a very cordial and friendly atmosphere.''

The meeting discussed the modalities for a survey of the boundary pillars laid in 1925 in the land portion. ``Both sides positively understood each other's points of view and a consensus generally emerged,'' a press release by the Pakistan Ministry of Defence said.

Both sides will meet again tomorrow and issue a joint statement. Jamil-ur-Rehman Afridi, Surveyor-General of Pakistan, led the Pakistani side while Girish Kumar, Deputy Surveyor-General of India, headed the Indian side.

Brig. Girish Kumar called on Ahsanul Haq Chaudhri, Pakistan Additional Secretary, Ministry of Defence.

Demarcation of the boundary has been a bone of contention between India and Pakistan for several decades. Eight rounds of talks held so far have not helped resolve the differences. The history of the issue dates back to 1914, when an agreement was signed between the then Government of Sindh and Rao Maharaj of Kutch. According to the agreement, both sides agreed to a boundary line running through the middle of the Creek as a border between the two states.

The final demarcation was completed in 1925 in which the boundary was shown by a ``green line,'' depicted on the eastern side of the creek. One side of the Creek is under Pakistan's control whereas there are naval installations of India on the other side. Pakistan claims that all the 17 Creeks of the Sindh coast belong to it, while India maintains that almost half of the area of the Sir Creek — the 17th one — belongs to it.

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