Defence Minister warns Pakistan against any misadventures in the disputed Sir Creek area.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh addressed concerns regarding Pakistan’s military activities near Sir Creek, a strategic estuary that delineates the boundary between Gujarat’s Kutch region and Pakistan’s Sindh province. Speaking at an event in Bhuj, Gujarat, during the Hindu festival of Dussehra, Singh asserted that Pakistan is expanding its military infrastructure in the area, which raises alarms about its intentions.
The Sir Creek spans 96 kilometers and has long been a point of contention between India and Pakistan. India maintains that the boundary lies in the middle of the creek, whereas Pakistan claims it is situated on the eastern bank. Singh emphasized that despite India’s repeated attempts to resolve the dispute through dialogue, Pakistan’s actions suggest a lack of sincere intent. He noted that even after 78 years of independence, tensions surrounding the area persist.
Singh remarked, “The way Pakistan has expanded its military infrastructure in the areas adjoining Sir Creek exposes its intentions.” He expressed concern that these developments indicate a potential for escalating conflict, particularly if Pakistan were to engage in what he termed a ‘misadventure’ in the region.
Reassuring the public, the Defence Minister stated that the Indian Army and the Border Security Force are on high alert along the border. He warned Pakistan that any aggressive action would elicit a robust response from India, one that could alter both history and geography. He referenced the 1965 war, highlighting the Indian Army’s capability to advance into Pakistani territory, specifically mentioning Lahore.
Looking ahead to the year 2025, Singh cautioned Pakistan, emphasizing that one of the routes to Karachi traverses the creek. This assertion underscores the strategic importance of the region in any potential military engagement.
Furthermore, Singh discussed recent military operations, specifically Operation Sindoor, which targeted terrorist bases in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir following the Pahalgam terror attack. He claimed this operation effectively demonstrated the vulnerabilities in Pakistan’s air defense systems and conveyed that India’s armed forces possess the capacity to inflict significant damage on Pakistan at will.
Singh noted that while India has demonstrated its military prowess, it has also exercised restraint, focusing its actions against terrorism rather than engaging in broader conflict. He pointed out that Operation Sindoor achieved all its military objectives, yet acknowledged that the fight against terrorism remains ongoing.
In the aftermath of these military confrontations, Singh mentioned casualties on both sides, with the Pakistani military reporting the deaths of 11 personnel and 40 civilians due to Indian strikes, while also acknowledging the loss of 22 Indian civilians and eight military personnel from Pakistani shelling. This ongoing cycle of violence and retaliatory strikes emphasizes the fragile and contentious nature of the relationship between the two nations.
