Just two days ahead of Pakistan interior minister Rahman Malik’s visit, Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi threw spanners in prime minister Manmohan Singh’s peace efforts with Pakistan.
Just two days ahead of Pakistan interior minister Rahman Malik’s visit, Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi threw spanners in prime minister Manmohan Singh’s peace efforts with Pakistan.
In a letter to the prime minister, Modi cautioned against any possible agreement on Sir Creek — the 96km strip of water dividing Pakistani province of Sindh and Kutch region of Gujarat.
Peace activists believe Sir Creek was the most “doable” of the contentious issues between the two countries. Modi even claimed that the prime minister was announcing a decision on Sri Creek on December 15, as part of the confidence building measure.
Reacting sharply, the prime minister’s office described Modi’s letter as ‘mischievous’. It also raised questions at the timing of the letter, writing a day ahead of the first phase of polling in Gujarat and two-days ahead of Pakistan minister Malik’s visit. “The contents of the letter and the timing of its release to the public raise questions about the motives behind its issue,” the PMO said.
Officials at the PMO said neither the conclusions drawn by Modi were real and nor had he attempted to ascertain the facts from the government.
In the two-page letter, Modi has said: “Handing over Sir Creek to Pakistan will give them more control over the exclusive economic zone in the sea. This will be a permanent threat to the fishermen of Saurashtra and Kutch and also the vital defence installations and majorindustrial installations like refineries and ports,” he said, adding, “Sir Creek is a part of our body. We cannot give away a part of our body.”
Under the UN Convention on the Law of Seas, both countries are bound to settle the issue of Sir Creek to delimitate the International Maritime Boundary. The non-delimitation often results in the arrests and harassment of fishermen by the coast guards of both countries.
While India has proposed to apply international law to delineate border middle of the stream, Pakistan had been insistent on making “east of the Creek” as border, as per a 1914 map of states of Kutch and Sindh. Another British map of Bombay Residency of1925, has, however, shown the western bank of Creek as border.
Sources in both governments believe Sir Creek was a ’doable’ issue. But, Pakistan, over the years, has been clubbing it with Siachen, asking for a package settlement of both the issues to create an environment of trust and confidence.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}