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DATE=8/6/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-236609
TITLE=INDIA/KASHMIR
BYLINE=ANJANA PASRICHA
DATELINE=NEW DELHI
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
INTRO:  INDIAN AUTHORITIES SAID THURSDAY THE DISPUTED KASHMIR 
BORDER IS QUIET AFTER A WEEK OF HEAVY CROSS-BORDER ARTILLERY 
FIRING BETWEEN THE INDIAN AND PAKISTANI ARMIES.  FROM NEW DELHI, 
ANJANA PASRICHA REPORTS. 
TEXT:  AN INDIAN DEFENSE SPOKESMAN SAYS THE EXCHANGE OF HEAVY 
ARTILLERY FIRE AND MORTARS ALONG THE CEASEFIRE LINE IN KASHMIR 
HAS STOPPED.  THE SPOKESMAN SAYS NO MAJOR INCIDENTS OCCURRED 
ALONG THE BORDER SINCE LATE WEDNESDAY, EXCEPT EXCHANGE OF SMALL 
ARMS FIRE. 
ACCORDING TO INDIAN DEFENSE AUTHORITIES, SPORADIC FIRING WAS 
REPORTED ONLY IN THE KARGIL SECTOR, WHICH LIES NORTHEAST OF 
KASHMIR. 
THE INDIAN AND PAKISTANI ARMIES STAND FACE TO FACE ALONG A 
740-KILOMETER SO-CALLED -- LINE OF CONTROL -- THAT DIVIDES THE 
DISPUTED KASHMIR REGION.
SPORADIC FIRING BETWEEN THE TWO ARMIES IS ROUTINE ALONG THIS 
FRONTIER, BUT THIS WEEK'S CROSS-BORDER ARTILLERY EXCHANGES WERE 
ONE OF THE HEAVIEST AND MOST PROLONGED IN RECENT YEARS.
BOTH SIDES ACCUSE EACH OTHER OF TRIGGERING THE FIRING.  HUNDREDS 
OF CIVILIANS ARE REPORTED TO HAVE FLED FROM VILLAGES NEAR THE 
LINE OF CONTROL, AND OFFICIALS SAY SCORES OF CIVILIANS AND 
SOLDIERS WERE KILLED IN THE WEEK-LONG FIGHTING.
TENSIONS BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES ROSE FOLLOWING THE FIRING, 
WHICH BEGAN AS EFFORTS TO RESUME A PEACE DIALOGUE LAST WEEK 
DEADLOCKED.  SEVERAL KILLINGS INDIAN OFFICIALS BLAMED ON 
SUSPECTED KASHMIRI SEPARATISTS IN JAMMU AND KASHMIR, AND THE 
NEIGHBORING HIMACHAL PRADESH STATE, ALSO STRAINED RELATIONS.
INDIAN DEFENSE MINISTER GEORGE FERNANDES TOLD PARLIAMENT 
WEDNESDAY PAKISTAN IS ORCHESTRATING THE ATTACKS TO RAISE TENSION 
IN THE REGION.  PAKISTAN ACCUSES INDIA OF BEGINNING THE ARTILLERY
EXCHANGES.
INDIA AND PAKISTAN HAVE FOUGHT TWO-WARS FOR CONTROL OF THE 
MUSLIM-MAJORITY REGION.  INDIA CONTROLS ABOUT ONE-THIRD OF 
KASHMIR, PAKISTAN THE REST.   (SIGNED)
NEB/RAE
06-Aug-98 7:42 AM EDT (1142 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.