Accord on Sir
Creek joint survey from next month
By Our Diplomatic Correspondent
ISLAMABAD—India and Pakistan have agreed to conduct joint survey from
January 15, 2007 to resolve Sir Creek dispute.
The agreement was reached between defence experts of Pakistan and India
during technical level talks here Saturday. Pakistani side was led by
Maj -Gen Jamil ur Rehman Afridi, surveyor general while Indian side was
headed by Rear Admiral B.R. Rao ,Chief Naval Hydrographer.
A joint statement issued on the conclusion of two-day talks said that
both the countries remained engaged in two days technical level talks on
December 22-23 to reach any agreement on commencement of joint survey on
Sir Creek. The experts also discussed the matters related to maritime
boundary.
The declaration said the talks were held in cordial and friendly
atmosphere. Both the sides discussed several technical matters with
reference to commencement of joint survey in a manner acceptable to both
sides. It was agreed that joint survey would start from January, 15,
2007. Both the sides held fruitful talks to delimit maritime boundary.
They also exchanged views on various options. It was agreed during the
talks that outermost points of coastlines of both the countries will
also be verified during the joint survey. The Indian delegation called
on defence secretary Tariq Waseem Ghazi earlier and exchanged views on
matters of mutual interest and technical survey.
Tariq Waseem Ghazi said it is essential that technical matters be
addressed in comprehensive manner so as to facilitate decision -making.
Both the sides expressed satisfaction over progress of the talks hoping
talks will leave positive impact on efforts for resolution of Sir Creek
issue in the interest of both the countries.
Indian delegation thanked government of Pakistan for extending warm
welcome and hospitality to them. Pakistan and India agreed on Saturday
to conduct a joint survey of a disputed estuary on their border, the
latest step in a tentative peace process between the nuclear-armed
rivals.
The agreement on the survey of the Sir Creek, that flows into the
Arabian sea between the Pakistani province of Sindh and the Indian state
of Gujarat, came after two days of talks between military officials in
the Pakistani city of Rawalpindi. Pakistan’s Ministry of Defence said
the talks were cordial and technical details of the survey had been
worked out amicably. “It was agreed to commence the joint survey from
Jan. 15, 2007,” the ministry said in a statement.
The dispute over the 100-km long estuary has hampered exploration for
oil and gas and led to the detention of hundreds of fishermen from the
two countries.
Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf, who has called for compromise over
the core dispute with India over the Himalayan region ofKashmir, said
this month the Sir Creek dispute “can be resolved expeditiously with
courage”. India and Pakistan have fought three wars since their
independence from Britain in 1947 and nearly went to war a fourth time
in 2002. |
