Pakistan rejects New Delhi's baseline system for Sir Creek
Pakistan says that Indian claims impinge upon Pakistan's territorial limits in Sir Creek area.
UNITED NATIONS:
Pakistan on Friday posted a strong challenge to India's position on the Sir Creek estuary border dispute. The manifest has been posted on the United Nations web site, saying Islamabad does not recognise the New Delhi-promulgated baseline system.
The challenge is contained in a December 6 letter addressed to Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon by the Pakistan Mission to the United Nations in New York. India's notifications enumerating its claims in regard to Sir Creek were placed on the web site of the UN Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea in May and November 2009.
The 96-km estuary separates India's Gujarat state from Pakistan's Sindh province. The Indian claims "impinge upon Pakistan's territorial limits in Sir Creek area and encroach upon its territorial waters, which are within its sovereign jurisdiction," the letter tells the UN chief.
"This encroachment by India in Pakistan's limits is a grave violation of international principles and established practices and clear violation" reads the relevant article of the UN Law of the Sea Convention.
The articles state that the system of straight baseline may not be applied by a State in such a manner as to cut off the territorial sea of another state form the high seas of Exclusive Economic Zones. "While the Government of Pakistan reserves its right to seek suitable revision of this notification, any claim India makes on the basis of ... Indian Notification to extend its sovereignty/jurisdiction on Pakistani waters or extend its internal waters, territorial sea, Exclusive Economic Zone and Continental Shelf is, therefore not acceptable to Pakistan ...," the letter added.
Pakistan on Friday posted a strong challenge to India's position on the Sir Creek estuary border dispute. The manifest has been posted on the United Nations web site, saying Islamabad does not recognise the New Delhi-promulgated baseline system.
The challenge is contained in a December 6 letter addressed to Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon by the Pakistan Mission to the United Nations in New York. India's notifications enumerating its claims in regard to Sir Creek were placed on the web site of the UN Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea in May and November 2009.
The 96-km estuary separates India's Gujarat state from Pakistan's Sindh province. The Indian claims "impinge upon Pakistan's territorial limits in Sir Creek area and encroach upon its territorial waters, which are within its sovereign jurisdiction," the letter tells the UN chief.
"This encroachment by India in Pakistan's limits is a grave violation of international principles and established practices and clear violation" reads the relevant article of the UN Law of the Sea Convention.
The articles state that the system of straight baseline may not be applied by a State in such a manner as to cut off the territorial sea of another state form the high seas of Exclusive Economic Zones. "While the Government of Pakistan reserves its right to seek suitable revision of this notification, any claim India makes on the basis of ... Indian Notification to extend its sovereignty/jurisdiction on Pakistani waters or extend its internal waters, territorial sea, Exclusive Economic Zone and Continental Shelf is, therefore not acceptable to Pakistan ...," the letter added.