DATE=11/12/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-241558
TITLE=INDIA-TERRORISM (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=DOUGLAS BAKSHIAN
DATELINE=NEW DELHI
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: PAKISTAN AND INDIA HELD TALKS IN NEW DELHI THURSDAY ON
TERRORISM AND DRUG TRAFFICKING, AS PART OF A LARGER DIALOGUE TO
EASE TENSIONS. VOA CORRESPONDENT DOUGLAS BAKSHIAN HAS MORE ON THE
STORY FROM THE INDIAN CAPITAL.
TEXT: TERRORISM IS AN IMPORTANT ISSUE FOR BOTH INDIA AND
PAKISTAN, WITH BOTH NATIONS ACCUSING EACH OTHER OF CAUSING
CROSS-BORDER UNREST AND VIOLENCE. BRAHMA CHELLANEY, OF NEW
DELHI'S CENTER FOR POLICY RESEARCH, SAYS INDIA HAS VERY SPECIFIC
CONCERNS.
// CHELLANEY ACT //
TERRORISM IS A MAJOR ISSUE FOR INDIA BECAUSE OF PAKISTAN'S OPEN
SUPPORT FOR THE KASHMIRI EXTREMISTS WHO ARE WAGING AN INSURGENCY
AGAINST INDIA IN THE KASHMIR VALLEY AND ALSO BECAUSE PAKISTAN, IN
THE PAST, HAS AIDED AND ABETTED INDIAN MILITANTS IN THE PUNJAB
AND ELSEWHERE IN INDIA. IN FACT, ACCORDING TO A RECENT REPORT BY
THE INDIAN INTERIOR MINISTRY, ALMOST ONE THIRD OF THE DISTRICTS
IN INDIA ARE AFFECTED BY INTERNAL DISORDER, UNREST, OR
INSURGENCY.
// END ACT //
PAKISTAN SAYS IT GIVES ONLY DIPLOMATIC AND POLITICAL SUPPORT TO
KASHMIRI MILITANTS, AND DENIES ARMING AND TRAINING THE FIGHTERS.
KASHMIR IS A DISPUTED TERRITORY OVER WHICH PAKISTAN AND INDIA
HAVE FOUGHT TWO WARS.
ISLAMABAD, FOR ITS PART, ACCUSES INDIA OF STIRRING UP TROUBLE IN
KARACHI, PAKISTAN'S LARGEST CITY AND ECONOMIC CAPITAL. KARACHI
SUFFERS PERIODIC OUTBREAKS OF VIOLENCE BETWEEN RIVAL POLITICAL,
ETHNIC, AND RELIGIOUS GROUPS. PAKISTAN ALSO FREQUENTLY BLAMES
INDIA FOR BOMBINGS IN THE PAKISTANI SIDE OF PUNJAB PROVINCE.
ON THE TOPIC OF DRUG TRAFFICKING, PAKISTAN HAS IN THE PAST
ACCUSED INDIA OF BEING THE SOURCE OF CHEMICALS USED IN THE
MANUFACTURE OF NARCOTICS. INDIA DENIES THIS. DRUG EXPERTS SAY
PAKISTAN ITSELF HAS PROBLEMS WITH OPIUM TRAFFICKING FROM
AFGHANISTAN AS WELL AS OPIUM TRADE IN PAKISTAN'S REMOTE TRIBAL
AREAS.
PAKISTAN AND INDIA CONCLUDE THIS ROUND OF TALKS FRIDAY WITH A
DISCUSSION OF CULTURAL EXCHANGES BETWEEN THE COUNTRIES. THE TALKS
BEGAN NOVEMBER FIFTH COVERING TOPICS INCLUDING WATER DISPUTES,
TRADE, AND THE HEAVILY MILITARIZED SIACHEN GLACIER. PAKISTAN,
HOWEVER, SAYS THERE CAN BE NO MOVEMENT ON THESE ISSUES UNTIL
THERE IS PROGRESS ON KASHMIR, THE CORE DISPUTE BETWEEN THE
NATIONS. (SIGNED)
NEB/DAB/PLM
12-Nov-98 6:31 AM EST (1131 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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