Pakistan and Indian officials will launch a joint survey today
to determine marshlands boundary, the News Network International
news agency quoting officials reported on Sunday.
The Sir Creek is a 96-km strip of water disputed between India
and Pakistan in the Rann of Kutch marshlands.
The creek, which opens up into the Arabian Sea, divides the
Kutch region of the Indian state of Gujarat with the Sindh province
of Pakistan.
On Saturday, Indian Foreign Minister Pranab Mukerjee also
confirmed in Islamabad that the survey would begin on Jan. 15.
The two countries have held series of rounds of talks over the
issue, which has been one of the eight major issues of the
Pakistan-India composite dialogue process.
Much of the land is either marsh or desert that neither side
sees as being militarily important. It is also sparsely
populated.
India says the boundary should be in the middle of the 100-km
(60-mile) estuary. Pakistan says the border should lie on the
south-east bank.
The NNI report noted that 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, said the report.
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, it added.
(Xinhua News Agency January 15, 2007)
