Pakistan boat found near Sir creek

The security agencies have taken seriously the recovery of an abandoned Pakistani boat by the BSF from the mouth of Pir Sinai creek which is about three miles away from the mouth of the controversial Sir creek.

The fishing  boat has now been brought to the headquarters of the water wing of the BSF at Koteshwar.

This recovery is cause for alarm as the BSF's floating BOPs (border outposts) have been withdrawn from the creek area and berthed at Jakhau, throwing the field open for Pakistani infiltrators to sneak into India.

"If the main reason for shifting of floating BOPs from vantage points in the creek area is rough sea of summer, how could a simple boat venture in a creek close to the Sir creek? BOPs, after all, are relatively big ships with all facilities," sources in the security agencies asked.

Questioning the rationale of withdrawal of BOPs, these sources said that it was the sea which became choppy for a flat-bottom craft at this time of the year, not the creek area which is not only calm but also has shallow water. They said the sea turned stormy only at the mouth of the creek where the creek met with the Arabian sea. Since this might overturn any flat-bottom vessel, they should be taken inside the comparatively calm creek areas.

The sources said that the problem could be solved if the BOPs are a mix of  round and flat bottom as is done in foreign countries. They also said that the BOPs built at the Goa Shipyard were not quite modern. The sources said that Kargil happened because our forces had abandoned the mountains as they became inhospitable in winter due to cold.

"If the creek area, which forms direct maritime border with Pakistan in the Kutch-Sind sector, remains unguarded in monsoon months beginning April, anti-Indian elements in Pakistan could take benefit of it to infiltrate into the country to carry out their nefarious plans against India," said the sources.