DATE=1/3/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=KASHMIR BLAST (L-UPDATE)
NUMBER=2-257721
BYLINE=JIM TEEPLE
DATELINE=NEW DELHI
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: Separatists are being blamed for an explosion
that has killed 14-people and injured more than 30
others at a market in Indian Kashmir. The explosion
in Srinigar occurred as senior Indian leaders blamed
Pakistan for last week's hijacking of an Indian
Airlines plane by Islamic militants. VOA'S Jim Teeple
reports India's Prime Minister is calling for Pakistan
to be declared a terrorist state.
TEXT: The blast occurred at a vegetable market in the
summer capital of India's Jammu and Kashmir state.
The market is frequented by members of Indian security
forces in Kashmir, but most of the victims appear to
be civilians.
It is the first attack blamed on Kashmiri separatist
militants since hijackers freed more than 150-hostages
New Year's Eve. In return the hijackers gained the
release of a Pakistani-born cleric and two Kashmiri
separatist militants.
Earlier Monday, India's Prime Minister Atal Behari
Vajpayee said he will urge major nations of the world,
including the United States, to declare Pakistan a
terrorist state. He became the latest senior Indian
official to accuse Pakistan of involvement in the
hijacking.
Speaking in the Indian city of Pune, Mr. Vajpayee
called the hijacking an integral part of a Pakistan-
backed campaign of terrorism against India.
Indian officials are warning of an upsurge in violence
following the hostage crisis. Indian National
Security Advisor Brajesh Mishra says his government
knows who the hijackers are and has evidence of
Pakistani involvement in the weeklong hostage crisis.
// MISHRA ACT //
We have very clear evidence that Pakistan was involved
in this hijacking. The five hijackers are all
Pakistani nationals - we have their names. The list
of 36 militants which was given to us to be released
in exchange for the hostages are mostly Pakistani's.
// END ACT //
Mr Mishra says India has intercepted radio
transmissions from Kashmiri separatist guerrillas,
linking Pakistan to the hijacking.
Pakistan condemned the hijacking and strongly denies
any involvement.
While Indian officials are blaming Pakistan for the
hijacking they have offered no proof.
Senior Indian officials are discounting reports in
Indian newspapers that the hijackers received help
from Taleban authorities in Afghanistan. Mr. Mishra
says the hijackers had more guns after they landed in
Afghanistan, but the guns came from luggage they
checked on board the plane before it left Katmandu,
Nepal bound for New Delhi.
// MISHRA ACT //
When the aircraft got to Kandahar, the flight engineer
was asked by one of the hijackers to go down and open
the hold and bring out one bag from the hold. And as
soon as that bag was brought to the aircraft there
were more arms in the aircraft.
// END ACT //
Senior Indian officials are being heavily criticized
for allowing the hijacked plane to leave Indian
territory. Shortly after the plane was seized, it
landed in the northern Indian city of Amritsar for
refueling. But after about one hour the hijackers
became nervous and forced the pilot to take off.
Mr. Mishra says airport officials in Amritsar were
instructed to delay the refueling, but the orders were
never carried out.
Meanwhile, India's civil aviation minister says India
plans to put anti-terrorist commandos on many flights
to prevent further hijackings. (SIGNED)
NEB/JLT/RAE
03-Jan-2000 09:35 AM EDT (03-Jan-2000 1435 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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