DATE=2/27/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=PAKISTAN/INDIA/KASHMIR (L-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-259614
BYLINE=AYAZ GUL
DATELINE=ISLAMABAD
INTERNET=YES
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: There are conflicting reports from the
disputed Himalayan region of Kashmir about an attack
on an Indian military post that left several Indian
soldiers dead. Ayaz Gul reports from Islamabad.
TEXT: Pakistan's government is rejecting as "totally
baseless" reports its troops killed six Indian
soldiers in a cross-border attack in disputed Kashmir.
Indian officials are quoted as saying those killed
were manning an Indian military post close to the
"Line of Control" that divides Kashmir between India
and Pakistan. India says another Indian officer and
three soldiers are missing in the pre-dawn attack.
An official Pakistani statement says Pakistani army
troops are not involved in any such action. It says
the allegation is "a cover-up" for an assault by
Indian troops on the Pakistani side of the region
Thursday, in which 14 villagers were massacred.
Pakistan accused Indian soldiers of crossing the line
of control and killing the villagers.
Meanwhile, a militant Islamic group, Harkat-ul Jehad-
e-Islami, is claiming responsibility for the attack on
the Indian post (Sunday). The group says it has
avenged Thursday's killings by attacking Indian troops
across the cease-fire line.
Reports from Pakistani Kashmir say the group made
announcements at local mosques that its guerrillas
brought back the body of one Indian army officer and
the heads of three soldiers.
There has been no independent confirmation the
announcement is accurate.
There are more than a dozen Pakistan-based Muslim
militant groups fighting Indian rule in the two-thirds
of Kashmir under New Delhi's control. Pakistan, which
controls the rest, denies Indian charges that it is
providing military training to the insurgents.
Both Pakistan and India claim the entire region and
have fought two wars over Kashmir since becoming
independent in 1947. (SIGNED)
NEB/AG/RAE
27-Feb-2000 12:27 PM EDT (27-Feb-2000 1727 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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