The agreement on the survey of the Sir Creek, that flows into the Arabian Sea between Sindh and the Indian state of Gujarat, came after two days of talks between military officials in Rawalpindi.

Pakistan’s Ministry of Defence said the talks were cordial and technical details of the survey had been worked out amicably.

“It was agreed to commence the joint survey from Jan 15, 2007,” the ministry said in a statement.

The dispute over the 100-km long estuary has hampered exploration for oil and gas and led to the detention of hundreds of fishermen from the two countries.

The ministry said the two sides held useful discussions on various options to delimit the maritime boundary.

“It was agreed to verify the outermost points of the coastlines of both countries during the joint survey with regard to the equidistance method,” it said. It did not elaborate.

The two sides agreed that the survey would be conducted without prejudice to the positions of the two countries, as well as to simultaneously hold discussions on the maritime boundary.

The Pakistani delegation was led by Maj-Gen Jamil ur Rahman Afridi, Surveyor General of Pakistan while the Indian side was led by Rear Admiral BR Rao, Chief Hydrographer

The two sides also held useful discussions on various options to delimit the maritime boundary.

Earlier, the Indian delegation, led by Rear Admiral BR Rao, called on Secretary Defence, Lt-Gen (retd) Tariq Waseem Ghazi, and discussed with him matters related to the technical survey. Both sides appreciated the friendly environment in which the discussions were held. The secretary Defence emphasised that it was imperative that the technical issues be addressed in a comprehensive manner so as to facilitate decision-making.

Both sides expressed satisfaction over the progress of the talks and were optimistic that this will have a positive impact on efforts at resolution of the Sir Creek issue.

President Pervez Musharraf, who has called for compromise over the core dispute with India over the Himalayan region of Kashmir, said this month the Sir Creek dispute “can be resolved expeditiously with courage”.

Analysts say demarcation of the estuary should not be difficult to agree but decades of mistrust has obstructed a settlement. The dispute has prevented the two sides agreeing on their maritime boundary and hindered exploration in an area thought to hold oil and gas deposits.

Authorities from the two countries also regularly arrest each others’ fishermen in the estuary for illegal intrusion.

India says the boundary should lie in the middle of the estuary, basing its claim on accepted practice as well as pillars built down the middle of the channel during British colonial rule. Pakistan says the border should lie on the southeastern bank of the creek, basing its claim on a line shown on a map drawn by the British governor of Bombay in the early 20th century.