India’s Defence Minister, Rajnath Singh, issued a stern warning to Pakistan on Thursday, stating that any misadventure in the Sir Creek sector would provoke a decisive response. Speaking from Bhuj in Gujarat, he emphasised that such a step would not only be countered firmly but could “change both history and geography.”
Rajnath Singh reminded that even after 78 years of independence, Pakistan continues to create disputes over the Sir Creek area despite India’s repeated efforts to resolve the matter through dialogue.
Rajnath Singh Warns Pakistan
Rajnath Singh highlighted Pakistan’s recent expansion of military infrastructure in the region as a clear signal of ill intent. “If Pakistan dares to act in the Sir Creek sector, the reply will be so strong that it will change both history and geography. In 1965, the Indian Army showed courage by reaching Lahore. In 2025, Pakistan must remember that the road to Karachi also passes through the Creek,” Singh asserted.
Alongside his warning, Singh virtually inaugurated a tidal-berthing facility and a Joint Control Centre (JCC) in Sir Creek, designed to boost integrated coastal operations, enhance joint capabilities, and ensure rapid responses to potential threats.
About Sir Creek Dispute
The Sir Creek region is a 96-km-long tidal estuary between Gujarat’s Rann of Kutch and Pakistan’s Sindh province. It has remained a point of contention since the 1947 partition. While the 1968 international tribunal settled most of the Rann of Kutch boundary, Sir Creek’s ownership remains unresolved. India insists the maritime boundary should be established first, while Pakistan argues the territorial claim must be settled beforehand.
Pakistan claims the creek entirely for Sindh, citing a 1914 resolution that placed the boundary on the eastern bank. India, however, invokes the thalweg principle, which sets boundaries along the mid-channel of navigable waters, and points to 1925 maps and mid-channel pillars as evidence.
Though the area has limited military significance, it is economically important due to potential oil and gas reserves. Control over the Sir Creek also affects maritime boundaries, exclusive economic zones (EEZs), and continental shelves. The dispute further impacts local fishers, who often unknowingly cross into each other’s waters, facing arrests and disruptions to their livelihoods.
