Towards Resolution of the Sir Creek Dispute

Abstract

The Sir Creek dispute remains a serious hurdle in the way of any meaningful progress on ties between Pakistan and India, but it also has huge potential to be resolved by recourse to international law and bilateral negotiations. In this respect, I will explore certain important historical, legal and political aspects of the Sir Creek dispute in order to better inform future dialogue between the two states. Among other things, I will discuss the status of the law and its application to the dispute. With regards to Sir Creek, other considerations that will be examined include: the impetus for both states to adhere to the law of the sea, the potential of international dispute resolution and the appropriate choice of procedure for settlement, the relevant weightage to be given to historical and special circumstances as well as the significance to relevant international legal proceedings on the dispute. The various factors relevant to the amicable settlement of such river boundary disputes will also be holistically examined.