DATE=7/14/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-235425
TITLE=INDIA/DEFENSE (L-O)
BYLINE=ANJANA PASRICHA
DATELINE=NEW DELHI
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: INDIAN DEFENSE AUTHORITIES HAVE ORGANIZED AN EXHIBITION
IN NEW DELHI DISPLAYING WEAPONS WHICH THEY SAY WERE SUPPLIED BY
PAKISTAN TO KASHMIRI SEPARATISTS. ANJANA PASRICHA REPORTS THE
EXHIBITION IS PART OF A STEPPED-UP PUBLICITY CAMPAIGN BY INDIA TO
BACK OFFICIAL CLAIMS THE KASHMIRI INSURGENCY IS SUPPORTED BY
ARCH-RIVAL PAKISTAN.
TEXT: PRIME MINISTER ATAL BEHARI VAJPAYEE INAUGURATED AN
EXHIBITION TUESDAY IN WHICH INDIAN SOLDIERS LINED UP STACKS OF
RIFLES, ANTI-TANK MINES, EXPLOSIVES AND OTHER WEAPONS.
AUTHORITIES SAY THE ARMY SEIZED THESE WEAPONS FROM KASHMIRI
SEPARATISTS DURING THE PAST DECADE.
SENIOR CABINET MINISTERS, DIPLOMATS, AND LAWMAKERS WERE INVITED
FOR THE EVENT. DEFENSE MINISTER GEORGE FERNANDES SAYS THE
EXHIBITION IS MEANT TO SHOW THE THREAT INDIA FACES FROM PAKISTAN
IN KASHMIR.
/// FERNANDES ACT ///
I FELT THAT LAWMAKERS IN DELHI AND THE PEOPLE OF INDIA, AND
ALSO THE REST OF THE WORLD SHOULD GET TO SEE, GET TO KNOW,M THE
KIND OF SITUATION THAT PREVAILS IN KASHMIR.
/// END FERNANDES ACT ///
NEW DELHI ACCUSES PAKISTAN OF AIDING THE KASHMIRI REBELLION BY
TRAINING AND ARMING MUSLIM SEPARATISTS. PAKISTAN DENIES THIS --
AND SAYS IT OFFERS ONLY MORAL AND DIPLOMATIC SUPPORT TO THE
KASHMIRI PEOPLE.
// OPT // A DOCUMENT DISTRIBUTED AT THE EXHIBITION BY THE ARMY
SAYS PAKISTAN'S STRATEGY IN KASHMIR IS TO BLEED INDIA THROUGH A
"THOUSANDS CUTS", REDUCE INDIA'S CONVENTIONAL ARMS SUPERIORITY
AND EXPAND MILITANCY TO OTHER STATES. // END OPT //
BUT, DEFENSE MINISTER FERNANDES ALSO SAYS THE SEPARATIST
INSURGENCY IN THE KASHMIR VALLEY IS WANING.
/// INSERT FERNANDES ACT ///
IN SO FAR AS THE (KASHMIR) VALLEY IS CONCERNED, MILITANCY IS NOT
ONLY ON THE WANE, BUT I THINK IT IS NOW ON ITS LAST LEGS. IN AS
MUCH AS THE NORMAL PEOPLE'S LIFE IS MORE OR LESS NORMAL. I WAS
IN SRINAGAR RECENTLY, NOT ONCE BUT TWICE, THERE WERE TOURISTS IN
THEIR THOUSANDS THERE, INDIAN AS WELL AS FOREIGN TOURISTS, AND
OVERALL THE SITUATION I FOUND IN THE VALLEY WAS -- IMPROVING IS
NOT THE WORD -- IN CERTAIN AREAS IT WAS A VERY NORMAL SITUATION.
/// END FERNANDES ACT ///
INDIA AND PAKISTAN HAVE FOUGHT TWO WARS OVER THE DISPUTED KASHMIR
REGION, WHICH IS CLAIMED BY BOTH COUNTRIES. HOSTILITIES BETWEEN
THE NATIONS HAVE COME BACK INTO SHARP FOCUS AFTER THEY EACH
CONDUCTED NUCLEAR TESTS. (SIGNED)
NEB/RAE
14-Jul-98 9:16 AM EDT (1316 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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