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| India-Pakistan |
| India, Pakistan narrow differences on disputed coastal strip |
| 2006-05-27 |
| NEW DELHI - India and Pakistan on Friday agreed to carry out a joint survey of a coastal strip aimed at an early settlement of a long-standing boundary dispute after talks in the Indian capital. The survey of Sir Creek, which links India’s Gujarat state with Pakistan’s Sindh province, and its adjoining areas is scheduled to be held between November 2006 and March 2007, according to a joint statement issued after the two-day talks. Technical experts and hydrographers from India and Pakistan would meet in Pakistan in August to work out modalities for the joint survey, the statement said. “Both sides agreed on an early settlement on the land boundary in the Sir Creek area and the maritime boundary and to conduct a joint survey of the Sir Creek and adjoining areas and waters,” the statement said. Both sides have been using documents that date back to 1914 to survey the marshland, which is believed to have shifted considerably since. In early 2005, both countries had decided that a new joint survey of Sir Creek would be conducted and used as the basis for negotiations to demarcate the border. But, at a later round of talks in 2005, they failed to agree on the area of land to be surveyed. |
| Posted by:Steve White |