Marines Canal: A Testament To Field Commander’s Leadership And Dedication By Pak Marines
Commodore Dr. Anjum Sarfraz
One of the remarkable initiatives taken by a Field Commander (FC) of the Pakistan Navy (PN) is digging of an all-weather Marines Canal in the extremely challenging and most sensitive area, South East of Karachi in the province of Sindh in the proximity of Sir Creek within 15 nautical miles of Indian borders in a time frame of about 45 days from 17 August to first week of October 2005.
The main objective was to enhance writ of PN in the area of responsibility (AOR) and to facilitate fishing to improve the socio economic conditions of the poor residents whose main source of living is dependent on fish catch. The Marines Canal is 1.5 Km long, 12 feet wide and an average 6 feet depth. Rear Admiral Iftikhar Ahmed Rao (retired as Vice Admiral) was Deputy Chief of Naval Staff Operations (DCNSO) prior to assuming command of a newly established Coastal Command as COMCOAST on 21 March 2005 as its first Commander till 16 January 2006. He had sufficient knowledge of the Sir Creek area especially its short comings and difficult landscape. In the interview with the author, he revealed that, “
it was very disturbing for me when I used to receive a report that some fisherman of the area have been captured or killed if they had tried to escape by the Indian Border Security Force (BSF).
My first priority was to look for a solution immediately after assuming command1.
The area was visited along with the Marine Cdr then Captain Azhar Majeed (retired as Commodore) and his team, Battalion Commander, Cdr Shahza and field area Company Commander, Lt Tariq (retired as Commodore). The matter was also deliberated with the prominent local residents to understand the problem and devise a workable solution. It became clear that, the real issue was a creek known as Uthanjodarya originated from the Indian side of the border, entered the Pakistani border and then weaved back to the Indian side. This picture, shows the creek in white with direction in yellow and red line the boundary limits.
Source: Google earth
There is a lot of good quality fish in this creek and our fisherman ventured there for bountiful catch. However, there was no access from the Pakistani side to this creek which is evident from the picture. The fisherman would assemble in Sukhanjodarya creek at night to reach Uthanjodarya creek. Smaller boats used to take Lucky Darya route whereas comparatively bigger boats sailed first all the way south through the Indian Territory and then north to reach their destination. The fisherman after fishing, at times more than a week, used to follow the same route for their return journey.
Many times during transit, the Indian BSF would capture or kill them if they tried to escape. The Indian BSF could come to our area while in chase of fisherman to capture or kill without much accountability. Moreover, Pak Marines had a lot of difficulties to go to Uthanjodarya area to patrol to enhance their writ. The solution was to dig a canal which joins Uthanjodarya and Sukhanjodarya at the closet point. The big inverted U- shaped bend of Uthanjodarya and an off shoot of Sukhanjodarya was the closest point as shown in the picture which was identified with the help of Maines deployed in the area and local residents.
Source: Google maps
It was a crucial as well as a mammoth task involving tremendous risks such as exposure to the Indians BSF surveillance and frequent threat of venomous snake bites in the area. But it was decided by the COMCOAST to go ahead assessing all the pros and cons. It was also decided to send a routine letter to NHQ giving impression of a routine job instead of requesting for formal approval. The troops were explained and motivated to undertake this task in the address by the FC as “
Our fishermen, are being killed and captured by our enemy in our area of our jurisdiction. How can we accept this situation? Therefore, we must do whatever is needed to be done to undo the situation. We can imagine the economic value to the fishermen of their venture through the creek, and that they spend so much time and money, and even risk their lives, to get to that area for fishing. And remember the Quranic verse that if you save even one person’s life, it is like saving the whole humanity. This will be Sadqa e Jaria for all the times to come. Secondly, from the military point of view, in the prevailing situation, we do not have our proper writ in that area. How can we accept that? We have to correct the situation. I take full responsibility in case of any unforeseen adversities that may arise”2
. Hats off for the marines and SSGN personnel who understood the sacred cause and said “
Labbaik” and never relented thereafter.
Detailed deliberations were conducted on the methods for digging the canal which revealed that dredgers cannot be utilized because smaller in size were not available which could reach to the site. The possibility of using excavators was also ruled out because of their inability to be transported and operated in marshy land. Finally it was decided to use conventional method employing Marines with shovels (
ganty belcha). An execution plan catering for all the contingencies was prepared. The Marines from Karachi along with their luggage were moved to the site on 13 August 2005 and the vehicles were stopped about 4 KM from the intended Base Camp because these could not move further due to muddy area. The highly motivated, determined and resilient Marines carried their luggage like ration packs, tents, digging tools, drinking water etc., arms & ammunition on their shoulders and negotiated the challenging terrain. The digging started on 17 August. From the base camp to the digging zone hired small boats (
horas) and Zulu boats were used. Marines were given 45 days to complete the task.
Every day the Company Cdr, Lt Cdr Tariq used to divide area into sections for digging and set the objectives for the teams. Despite adverse weather and non-availability of shade of any type the Marines continued their job unabated. Digging in the marshy land is difficult as compared to normal. When you push the spade it is relatively easy but pulling out is difficult and you need another person to remove the sticky mud as shown in the picture. It is relevant to mention that FC himself and also all the officers and men under his command related to this project or not were told to take part on the
site for at least one day to show solidarity with the employed troops.
Source: Picture from the book, Gwatar Bay to Sir Creek p272
Quite a few snakes were killed during the operation. However, an incident of snake bite also occurred. Marine namely Allah Wasaya was bitten by a snake. After administering first aid by the camp doctor was immediately shifted to the nearest hospital in Badin on the ambulance after a lot of struggle due to long marshy land to reach the road and weather not conducive to call for a helicopter. There was apprehension that the ambulance might struck in the mud therefore, 12 Marines accompanied the ambulance on foot. The patient was then shifted to PNS Shifa naval hospital Karachi. With the infinite mercies of Allah Almighty he survived. His immediate evacuation and survival kept the morale of Marines high and did not deter their determination. The naval air arm particularly the young professional aviators of Alouette Squadron provided complete support at short notices for ferrying the COMCOAST, his staff and to meet any contingency. This exceptional national development project under taken at the initiative of the Field Commander without utilizing additional funds and resources was completed in first week of October 2005. A total 7 highly motivated junior officers, 101 Marines, enthusiastically participated without any extra allowance and incentives.
In addition 5 officers including CSO to COMCOAST (Cdre Tayyab Ali Dogar retired as Vice Admiral), and Captain Zafar Yab (retired as Commodore) Hydrographer of Pakistan (HPN) physically participated in digging. All participants were awarded certificates and souvenirs by the COMCOAST as a Chief Guest in a simple but impressive ceremony followed by Bara Khanna in October 2005. The intention was to keep the ceremony at low key3.
This all-weather navigable channel named as Marines Canal is now shown on the charts. A plaque has been placed giving the names of all participating officers and troops. It has made the patrolling of AOR of Marines much easier to enhance their writ. The fishing activities can now be done by the local residents without any fear of being caught or killed. This national development task, the vision of the Field Commander has proved that “where there is a will there is a way.” It has set an example for others to follow. It has also proved that good leadership especially in the field operations is extremely important. The well-motivated troops are more than willing to perform national development tasks. It has also demonstrated that a lot of similar national development tasks can be performed by the Armed forces. It is proposed that to facilitate PN to employ officers & sailors for national development projects, it may also get the Pakistan Navy Ordinance 1962 amended to include national development tasks like Army has done in August 2023 by getting the section 175E added in the Army Act 1951. It reads “National Development, The Pakistan Army may, upon direction or with concurrence of relevant authorities of the appropriate government in the prescribed manner, directly or indirectly carry out activities related to inter alia national development and advancement of national or strategic interest: provided that all such activities already undertaken shall be deemed to be and always to have been validity done under this act” 4. This addition in the Act has certainly provided flexibilities to the Army especially Field Commanders.
References.
1) Interview of Vice Admiral (Retd) Iftikhar Ahmed Rao by author dated 3 Feb 25
2) Vice Admiral (Retd) Iftikhar Ahmed Rao, Gwatar Bay to Sir Creek, IPS Press 2022,p264
3) Ibid p 258-291
4) The Gazette of Pakistan, Extra Ordinary, Pakistan Army (Amendment) Act, 2023, 18 August 2023
