India is set to launch Trishul 2025, a major military exercise off the coast of Gujarat beginning October 30, focusing on the Rann of Kutch and the Sir Creek region. The Army has deployed tanks, armed helicopters, and missile units, while the Navy has stationed frigates and destroyers, and the Air Force has sent Su-30MKIs and Rafales. The exercise covers a swathe of north-west Gujarat and parts of Rajasthan until November 10, amid rising tensions with Pakistan, which has expanded military infrastructure near the disputed Sir Creek.
Historically, the Rann of Kutch has been a hotspot between India and Pakistan. In 1965, Pakistan’s first military dictator, Ayub Khan, launched Operation Desert Hawk, a land and air thrust into Kutch to test military hardware before potential incursions in Jammu and Kashmir. India’s post-1962 military buildup thwarted major losses in Kutch, but the conflict escalated into the broader 1965 war. The Sir Creek dispute, unresolved since then, continues to hold strategic, economic, and ecological importance, making it a sensitive flashpoint in India-Pakistan relations.
Sir Creek’s control impacts maritime boundaries and the delimitation of Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs), granting access to untapped resources in the Arabian Sea. India cites the Thalweg Principle to claim the mid-channel boundary, while Pakistan claims the eastern bank. With Pakistani infrastructure expansion and winter conditions making the Rann terrain suitable for armored movements, Trishul 2025 not only showcases India’s preparedness but also serves as a deterrent against potential diversionary actions by Pakistan, reminiscent of 1965 strategies.
