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DATE=6/12/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-233793
TITLE=INDIA / PAKISTAN TALKS (L)
BYLINE=JIM TEEPLE
DATELINE=NEW DELHI
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
INTRO:  THE GOVERNMENT OF INDIA HAS INVITED PAKISTAN'S FOREIGN 
SECRETARY TO NEW DELHI ON JUNE 22ND FOR BILATERAL TALKS.  V-O-A'S
JIM TEEPLE REPORTS THE INDIAN GOVERNMENT ALSO WELCOMED PAKISTAN'S
DECISION TO PLACE A MORATORIUM ON NUCLEAR TESTING.  
TEXT:  INDIA SAYS PAKISTAN'S FOREIGN SECRETARY IS WELCOME TO COME
TO NEW DELHI TO DISCUSS A VARIETY OF ISSUES, INCLUDING NUCLEAR 
PROLIFERATION AND THE KASHMIR DISPUTE.   
K-C SINGH A SPOKESMAN FOR INDIA'S FOREIGN AFFAIRS MINISTRY SAYS 
THE TALKS SHOULD BE BASED ON PROPOSALS SUBMITTED TO PAKISTAN IN 
JANUARY.  
                      // SINGH ACTUALITY //
         WE NOTE THAT OUR VIEW THAT THE BILATERAL DIALOGUE 
         PROCESS SHOULD PROCEED AHEAD FOR MUTUAL BENEFIT IS 
         FINDING ACCEPTANCE IN PAKISTAN.  WE HOPE THEY WILL 
         CONTINUE ON THIS PATH. 
                      //  END ACTUALITY //
AFTER A THREE-YEAR BREAK, SENIOR DIPLOMATS FROM BOTH COUNTRIES 
HELD THREE ROUNDS OF TALKS IN 1997 BUT LITTLE OR  NO  PROGRESS 
WAS MADE ON A NUMBER OF ISSUES.
IN JANUARY OF THIS YEAR, THE PRIME MINISTERS OF PAKISTAN AND 
INDIA HELD BRIEF TALKS IN DHAKA, BANGLADESH, BUT SINCE THEN THERE
HAVE BEEN  NO  SIMILAR DISCUSSIONS.  
A SEPARATE STATEMENT ISSUED BY INDIA'S FOREIGN AFFAIRS MINISTRY 
ON FRIDAY ALSO WELCOMED PAKISTAN'S ANNOUNCEMENT THAT IT WAS 
PLACING A MORATORIUM ON ALL FURTHER NUCLEAR TESTS.  K-C SINGH OF 
INDIA'S FOREIGN MINISTRY NOTED INDIA HAD PUT ITS OWN MORATORIUM 
ON NUCLEAR TESTING IN PLACE MORE THAN THREE WEEKS AGO -- BEFORE 
PAKISTAN CONDUCTED ITS OWN TESTS. 
                      // SINGH ACTUALITY //
         IT IS ENCOURAGING THAT PAKISTAN TOO HAS NOW ANNOUNCED A 
         MORATORIUM.  IT WILL BE RECALLED, INDIA HAD ANNOUNCED A 
         MORATORIUM ON NUCLEAR TESTS MORE THAN THREE WEEKS AGO 
         AND, DESPITE SUBSEQUENT TESTS BY PAKISTAN TOOK THE 
         RESPONSIBLE DECISION TO CONTINUE ITS MORATORIUM. 
                       // END ACTUALITY //
THE PRIME MINISTERS OF INDIA AND PAKISTAN ARE ALSO EXPECTED TO 
MEET SOON FOR FACE-TO-FACE TALKS AT A REGIONAL SUMMIT IN SRI 
LANKA IN JULY.  (SIGNED) 
NEB/JLT/LTD /MMK
12-Jun-98 9:38 AM EDT (1338 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.