India-Pak fail to make headway on Sir Creek

India and Pakistan on Tuesday failed to make any headway on their maritime boundary dispute in the Sir Creek region at the 12th round of the talks with both sides reiterating their stated positions and expressing desire to find an amicable solution.

Under the resumed dialogue process between India and Pakistan, the two-day talks on Sir Creek issue were held in New Delhi. The Indian delegation was led by Surveyor General of India Swarna Subba Rao and the Pakistani side was led by Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Defence Rear Admiral Farrokh Ahmad.

"The two sides discussed the land boundary in the Sir Creek area and also delimitation of International Maritime Boundary between India and Pakistan. They reiterated their desire to find an amicable solution of the Sir Creek issue through sustained and result-oriented dialogue," a joint statement, issued at the end of the meeting, said.

Noting that talks were held in a "friendly and cordial" atmosphere, it said the two sides agreed to hold the next round of the talks on Sir Creek issue in Pakistan at mutually convenient dates to be determined through diplomatic channels.

The Pakistan delegation also met Shekhar Agarwal, additional secretary, Ministry of Defence.

Talks on Sir Creek issue were held a week after the meeting on another important issue of Siachen Glacier, which also failed to make any progress. Both the countries had reiterated their positions on the issue.

Pakistan and India held their last meeting on Sir Creek in Rawalpindi on May 20 and 21 last year. Sir Creek is a 96-km strip of water that is disputed between India and Pakistan in the Rann of Kutch marshlands. The creek, which opens into the Arabian Sea, divides the Kutch region of Gujarat and the Sindh province of Pakistan.