DATE=6/7/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-233478
TITLE=PAK BOMB (L)
BYLINE=ALI ZAIDI
DATELINE=ISLAMABAD
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: PAKISTAN IS BLAMING INDIA FOR A TRAIN BOMBING (SUNDAY) IN
SOUTHERN PAKISTAN THAT LEFT 23 PEOPLE DEAD AND MORE THAN 30
INJURED. INDIA DENIES THE CHARGES. AS ALI ZAIDI REPORTS FROM
ISLAMABAD -- THIS IS THE LATEST IN A SERIES OF BOMBINGS IN
PAKISTAN IN RECENT DAYS.
TEXT: A PAKISTAN FOREIGN MINISTRY STATEMENT LAID THE BLAME FOR
THE TRAIN BOMBING SQUARELY ON INDIAN INTELLIGENCE AGENTS.
CALLING FOR THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY TO CONDEMN INDIA FOR THE
BOMBING, THE FOREIGN MINISTRY SAYS SUCH ACTS OF TERRORISM COULD
ENDANGER MOVES TO RESOLVE CONFLICTS IN THE REGION.
NEW DELHI REJECTED THE ACCUSATION FROM ISLAMABAD AS PREPOSTEROUS
AND BASELESS -- WORDS INDIA HAS USED TO DENY PREVIOUS SIMILAR
CHARGES BY PAKISTAN.
THE BOMB RIPPED THROUGH A CROSS-COUNTRY PASSENGER TRAIN IN
SOUTHERN PAKISTAN EARLY SUNDAY AS MOST PASSENGERS SLEPT. POLICE
OFFICIALS SAY THE DEVICE WAS A TIME BOMB PROBABLY PLACED UNDER A
SEAT IN THE CARRIAGE. ONE TRAIN COMPARTMENT WAS DESTROYED, WHILE
TWO OTHERS WERE DAMAGED BY THE BLAST.
AUTHORITIES SAY THE DEATH TOLL COULD RISE, WITH SOME OF THE
INJURED IN SERIOUS CONDITION.
PAKISTAN HAS ALSO ACCUSED INDIAN AGENTS OF BEING RESPONSIBLE FOR
A BOMB EXPLOSION FRIDAY IN A LAHORE CINEMA THAT KILLED THREE
PEOPLE. AUTHORITIES SAY THEY HAVE IDENTIFIED A SUSPECT -- WHO
WAS INJURED IN THE EXPLOSION -- AS AN INDIAN NATIONAL WHO HAS
CONFESSED TO CARRYING OUT SIMILAR TERRORIST ATTACKS IN THE PAST.
PAKISTAN WAS ROCKED BY A SERIES OF BOMBS ON PASSENGER TRAINS AND
BUSES EARLIER THIS YEAR.
INDIA AND PAKISTAN ROUTINELY ACCUSE EACH OTHER OF SPONSORING
TERRORISM ON THEIR SOIL AS A WAY OF CREATING INSTABILITY. BOTH
SIDES DENY THE CHARGES.
TENSIONS BETWEEN PAKISTAN AND INDIA HAVE RISEN SINCE BOTH
COUNTRIES EXPLODED NUCLEAR DEVICES LAST MONTH, DRAWING
CONDEMNATION AND ECONOMIC SANCTIONS FROM THE INTERNATIONAL
COMMUNITY.
THE TWO COUNTRIES HAVE FOUGHT THREE WARS IN THE LAST FIFTY YEARS,
TWO OF THEM OVER THE DISPUTED HIMALAYAN STATE OF KASHMIR.
(SIGNED)
NEB/AZ/RAE
07-Jun-98 10:00 AM EDT (1400 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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