India’s border dispute (Part I)

(A  tribute to all peace loving innocent hapless people of Pakistan & Pakistan/China Occupied Kashmir)

Sir Creek (Gujarat Border)

It is a 96 km strip of water/marshland that has been a bone of contention since the two countries India and Pakistan got divided. It is in the Rann of Kutch marshlands. These marshlands are uninhabited. 


The creek, which opens up into the Arabian Sea, divides the Kutch region of the Indian state of Gujarat with the Sindh province of Pakistan. It is locally called 'Baan Ganga' which has roots from the Vedic Era. Sir Creek is named after the British representative who did the survey and demarcated the boundary.


The long dispute is from the mouth of Sir Creek to it's top and from there eastwards to the line named Western Terminus.


During monsoon between June-Sep, the creek floods and the area is only accessible by hovercraft due to unknown varying shallow depth where speed boats often get stuck. During winter the area is mostly dry with wet patches and home to many migratory birds including Flamingoes.

Green Dotted Line – Pakistan Claim / Red Dotted Line – International demarcation of Sir Creek.

Indian claim is as per a 1925 map where it is shown that the separating boundary of the then Government of Sindh and Princely state of Kutch is the centre of the channel. This principle is also supported by the Thalweg Doctrine in International Law, which states that river boundaries between two states be divided by the mid-channel being fair to both parties. 

Pakistan disputes to the application of the internationally recognized Thalweg Doctrine stating the water body in question is not navigable, which is one of the sub-clauses. India rejects the Pakistani stance stating the fact that the creek is highly navigable everyday during the high tide, and that fishing trawlers use it to go out to sea.

Pakistan tried in vain to take over this region by force in April 1965, to which India responded with more military might, which had disastrous effect on the Pak military and economy, the result of the war and its long term effect, is known to all.

In 1999 Pakistan tried to transgress into this part of the Indian territory by force, India responded by shooting down a Pakistani Navy Reconnaissance Aircraft. Since then the impasse goes on as New Delhi as usual has never asserted strongly over it’s legitimate territory and winnow out these forged claims. A lot of propaganda backed by ISI can be seen in the public domain but nothing positive outcome in favor of Pakistan has come by so far.

Although some International experts preach that Indian claim is based on presence of oil and gas in these region. But so far the available geological data speaks a different story. Nevertheless, India being legitimate in its claim should not give up its own territory at any cost.

Images: Courtesy Bharatrakshak.com

To be continued....

India’s Bluewater Naval preparedness – Part I

(INS Arihant Special Episode)

What is a Bluewater Capability ?

Blue-water naval capability means that a naval fleet is able to operate on the high seas without the need to come back to the shore. This includes long time sustenance which includes the security of the formation from sea, under sea and air, replenishment of supplies and repair / overhauling. Apart from Bluewater capability there are two more popular terms commonly used Green water capability (Littoral reach from coast to territorial limits of 200 nautical miles) and Brown water capability (riverine internal reaches). Currently globally six nations has that capacity, they are US, UK, France, South Korea, China and India.

Typically Indian Navy comprises of three fleets namely Western Naval Command, Eastern Command and Far Eastern Naval Command.

Currently India has INS Viraat an age old Aircraft career, in 2014 another 2 refitted Aircraft Carriers INS Vikrant and INS Vikramaditya would be put into service. Apart from it there are amphibious transport dock INS Jalashwa, Landing crafts, Fleet Tankers especially Deepak Class, nuclear-powered attack submarine, Scorpene class & Akula class submarines.

Introduction to the Significance of Indian Bluewater Naval Capability

India is one of the most important country in terms of trade in the Indian ocean. It is the second most populous country in the world after China. Thus there is always a huge demand for large scale import and export of goods to and from India through Indian ocean. Thus maritime security of it’s prime trade route is the key to the sustenance as a nation. The requirement is quite similar to China, which also imports and exports in large scale. The ports of Indian Ocean handle about 30% of the world commerce. The trade flowing through Indian Ocean comprises 80% for extra-regional and 20% for intra-regional countries. Half of the world containerized traffic traverses through Indian Ocean. Since ancient times India had bluewater naval capabilities and had seaborne trade route into far flung countries as far as Alexandria in the west and Bali in the east.

Rapidly militarizing Indian ocean is a matter of grave concern. Especially with the presence of Diego Garcia (A strategic US-UK post in the Indian ocean) to safeguard US interest in Asia-pacific and Reunion Islands (A French Island in Indian Ocean) to keep French control on the Indian Ocean trade routes, thanks to the growing suspicious role of the Chinese navy, Indian navy has no other choice but to strengthen it’s bluewater (ocean going / long sustenance with limited support from ground based base) capability.

The below charts would show major global sea freight routes (see Fig 1) some global choke points which are strategic to India’s global sea freight (see Fig 2).

Fig 1 (Militarization of Indian Ocean)

French Naval Base @ Reunion Islands, US Long Range Surveillance Base @ Australian Coco Islands, US Naval Base @ Diego Garcia (British Indian Ocean Territory), Chinese Naval Replenishment Facility @ Seychelles, Yemen and Oman, Chinese Naval Communication Base @ Myanmar’s Coco Islands north of Indian Andaman & Nicobar Islands.

Fig 2

INS Arihant

It is the India’s first indigenously built nuclear powered submarine, the construction of the submarine is complete, the sea trials are underway which would take another 6 months. It was primarily a DRDO brainchild. Looking at the good progress and impressive features in design and in yard trials, the Indian government has decided to build two more of its type. INS Arihant will be armed with K-15 ballistic missiles, capable of delivering nuclear warheads up to 700 km.

Key Statistics:

·         Displacement: 6,000 tons

·         Length: 112m

·         Beam: 10m

·         Powerplant: 83 MWe PWR

·         Crew: 95

·         Surface Speed: 12-15 kts

·         Submerged Speed: 24 kts

·         Armament: 12 K-15 Sagarika missiles, Torpedos, Torpedo launched cruise missiles

In layman terms, this means India becomes a member of the privy group of countries along with US, Russia, France, UK, Germany and China.

Defense experts believe that China is also busy developing its first fully indigenous version of the nuclear powered submarine, which is expected to be completed soon as well. The current one’s being used is not fully nuclear powered, like Type 091 (Han) and Type 092 (Xia).

Other Strategic Naval Procurements

India has a history of aggressive neighbors especially with China it has a long history of border related tension, dating back to a 1962 border war. India wishes to be prepared for surprises, which is one of the key lessons learnt from the 1962 war, where the country’s ego was badly bruised due to unpreparedness and lack of armory. Currently India is the one of the world's largest arms importer with plans to spend $100 billion on weapons between 2011 and 2015.

In 2013, the Indian Navy is set to replace its ageing fleet of Soviet-era Long range bombers Tu-142s with Boeing P8I aircrafts with high-end anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare capabilities.

Fig 3 (New P8Is which are going to replace

TU 142s Long Range Reconnaissance/Bomber)

India also has struck a deal with Russia of value $30 billion (Rs 1,50,000 crores) for the joint development of the fifth generation fighter aircraft, which is likely to change the face of Indian military.

India is also expected to take the delivery of the Soviet-built aircraft carrier in 2013 INS .

Recently India has undertaken a 10 year lease from Russia, a K-152 Nerpa nuclear-powered attack submarine. This is a Akula II class submarine, which was put into service as the INS Chakra. The submarine’s displacement is 8,140/12,770 tons. Its maximum speed is 30 knots, maximum operating depth, 600 m; its endurance is 100 days with a crew of 73. The vessel is armed with four 533mm torpedo tubes and four 650mm torpedo tubes.

[ To be continued ]

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Chanakya Neeti

 Chanakya Neeti

Whores don't live in the company of poor men, citizens never support a weak king and birds don't build nests on a tree that doesn't bear fruits.

The world's biggest powers are the youth of a man and beauty of a woman.

There is poison in the fang of a serpent, in the mouth of a fly and in the sting of a scorpion; but the wicked man is saturated with it.

Trees on a riverbank, a woman in another man’s house and kings without counselors go without doubt to swift destruction.

Separation from the wife, disgrace from one’s own people, an enemy saved in battle, service to a wicked king, poverty, and a mismanaged assembly: these six kinds of evils, if afflicting a person, he burns all the time even without fire.

To be continued....

Comparison of Indian and Pak Military Leadership

Comparison of Indian and Pak Military Leadership

Right from Gen Ayub Khan through Gen  Zia Ul Haq to Gen Pervez Mussharaf and now Gen Parvez Ashfaq Kayani, Pakistan military always had a dynamic role to play in their country's politics, unlike India….. 

Recently General Kayani has been named as world’s 20^th most powerful person by a popular survey, who even dared to refuse dialogue with US Defense Official. The Pak polity does not dare to do anything without taking note of Pak Military. Recently Gen Kayani gave a press statement stating Pak Military would always be apolitical and uphold the best interest of the nation. It would support the role and rule of democratically elected government for the populace.

How come in Bharat this phenomenon is totally absent …Is it a strategy to keep the military command weak and dependant all the time…… ….to be noted in the context of a recent army commotion between the jawans and the officers in the Kashmir sector forward lines….Sadly Indian polity prefers to have weak and feeble people in command, for the fear of a coup, since they know their follies……They seldom like people like General Cariappa, General J N Chaudhury or General Sam Maneckshaw s to be at the helm of affairs....

Please post your thoughts and comment on the above!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The First Post

The purpose of this blog is discussing thought on various aspects of Public Policy especially the one’s related to the External Affairs, there would be various historical references coming in from time to time as well as various citation from other relevant Blogs, Sites and quotations of the wise in this regard…..Please treat this as your own forum to discuss the above topics…...             Please refrain from using any foul / un-parliamentary language in your posts/comments...                      To start with the following quote from Arthashastra by the great Stateman Mahamati (The Immensely Wise)Chanakya.  "If you know yourself and your enemy, you do not have to bother about the victory in the forthcoming battle but 100 battles to come......If you only know yourself and not your enemy, then defeat is a possibility in the forthcoming battle as well in the 100 battles to come......If you neither know yourself nor your enemy, then you would see the face of defeat not only in the forthcoming battle but 100 battles to come"                                                                                                            

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