BSF catches 4 Pakistani fishermen in Gujarat's Sir Creek, seizes boat near India-Pakistan border

The Border Security Force (BSF) on Sunday apprehended four Pakistani fishermen and seized a fishing boat in Gujarat's Sir Creek area, close to the India-Pakistan border. Officials said that the men had entered Indian waters to catch crabs. Acting on specific intelligence, BSF personnel intercepted them in the marshy region of Kutch district, where border crossings are closely monitored.

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Four Pakistani fishermen identified after BSF operation

The operation took place on Sunday, the tidal creek that runs between Gujarat and Pakistan's Sindh province. The four men have been identified as Kadir Thaimor, Muhammad Mussa, Azgar Thaimor and Ahsan Jat. All four are from Chach Jaan Khan village in Sindh.

The group had crossed into Indian waters to catch crabs, a common fishing activity in the region's shallow creeks, as per media reports. BSF personnel acted after receiving specific information about their presence. A Pakistani fishing boat was recovered during the operation. Authorities have not publicly given details of the vessel's registration, the equipment found aboard or the next legal steps.

Why is the Sir Creek area sensitive for India and Pakistan?

Sir Creek is a narrow stretch of water and mudflats near the Arabian Sea. It separates parts of Gujarat's Kutch region from Sindh and is associated with a longstanding boundary dispute between India and Pakistan.

Unlike a clearly marked land crossing, the area contains tidal channels and waterlogged ground, making it difficult for fishing crews to identify where one country's waters end and the other's begin.

The same terrain makes surveillance demanding for border personnel. Shifting tides, shallow waterways and stretches of marshland can limit movement on foot or by boat. The BSF patrols the region to detect unauthorised entries and other cross-border activity, while fishing boats sometimes appear in the waterways close to the border.

BSF security surveillance in Gujarat's Kutch region

In May 2026, Union Home Minister Amit Shah inspected BSF facilities around Sir Creek and Harami Nala.

He reviewed surveillance arrangements and visited a border outpost during the inspection. The visit came amid efforts to improve monitoring in sections of the border where the terrain complicates routine patrols.

Previous Pakistani fishing boat seizures near Sir Creek

Sunday's detention is not the first involving Pakistani fishermen in the Kutch creeks. In May 2026, BSF personnel found an abandoned suspected Pakistani boat near the maritime border. Fishing gear was recovered, but officials reported no suspicious material in the initial inspection.

Notably, such incidents have occurred repeatedly in the region, where fishing grounds lie close to the international border. Fishermen sometimes cross into restricted waters, although the circumstances of individual crossings can differ.

Further information about the case is awaited from the authorities.

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