Why India needs amphibious combat boats against Pakistan - the unique challenges of Sir Creek
India is procuring amphibious combat boats to enhance surveillance and patrol capabilities in the Sir Creek region, a disputed tidal estuary on the border with Pakistan. The move follows increased military infrastructure development by Pakistan and ongoing territorial tensions.
Why it matters
The acquisition reflects the strategic importance of the Sir Creek maritime boundary and the ongoing geopolitical friction between India and Pakistan.
Sir Creek, a 96-km tidal estuary, is the southernmost border between India and Pakistan. This sector is the only area outside Jammu and Kashmir where the two countries have a territorial dispute.India says the demarcation line should run through the middle of the water body, as is international convention; Pakistan claims the entire creek, asserting the eastern bank as the boundary.The difference is crucial because, under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, the land boundary terminus at Sir Creek determines the starting point of each country’s Exclusive Economic Zone. Even a small shift can translate into thousands of square kilometres of maritime territory.In October last year, months after renewed hostilities between India and Pakistan, Pakistan’s navy chief visited Sir Creek and inducted three hovercraft into the region.
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