Indian Ocean Etymology and Legal Rights of Waterways

A misconception giving rise to apprehensions exist in various circles in Pakistan that Indian Ocean has either been named from India or India may assert its authority on the said mass of water by virtue of its name. Any assertion of power on the waterways in our neighborhood may result in dire consequences politically, economically and militarily. An attempt has been made in this original work to highlight the historical background of naming Oceans and powers of coastal states under International law enshrined in United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea 1982 (hereinafter UNCLOS 1982)concluding the effect and significance of the name of an ocean for asserting any authority. It is mainly based on personal experience of the authors and research in the field of Maritime, Maritime Law, International Law and Law of the Sea.