The Rann of Kutch Dispute and the Resolution Process

The Rann of Kutch dispute is one example of how states engage in conflict over relatively trivial land masses of little strategic value. The dispute demonstrates that territoriality goes to the heart of states’ sovereignty and integrity, and contested land—even if its strategic and resources values are low or negligible—can long remain a cause of quarrels and hostilities. Originally little attention was paid to this landmass during British rule. It was only in 1959 that Indian geologists proposed to explore the area for oil, and thereafter the Rann acquired more strategic importance. Eventually, due to financial and technical constraints, the potential presence of hydrocarbons reserves could not be explored, but this open question kept alive the problem of demarcating the Gujarat-West Pakistan boundary, which later brought the dispute over the Rann to the fore. This chapter traverses the history and course of the dispute and the sequence of skirmishes and hostilities followed by the mediation of Great Britain. The text examines the major impediments India and Pakistan confronted, during negotiations, in working out the modalities for ceasefire and referral to the International Tribunal. The chapter also illuminates subsidiary factors that influenced the settlement of the dispute.