DATE=7/31/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-236328
TITLE=PAK-INDIA L
BYLINE=DOUGLAS BAKSHIAN
DATELINE=COLOMBO
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: PAKISTAN AND INDIA SAY THERE HAS BEEN NO PROGRESS IN
THEIR TALKS IN SRI LANKA, BUT THEY HAVE COMMITTED THEMSELVES TO
CONTINUE A DIALOGUE THROUGH DIPLOMATIC CHANNELS. V-O-A
CORRESPONDENT DOUGLAS BAKSHIAN REPORTS FROM COLOMBO.
TEXT: PAKISTANI GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN TARIQ ALTAF TOLD REPORTERS
THE MEETINGS BETWEEN THE PAKISTANI AND INDIAN FOREIGN SECRETARIES
IN SRI LANKA PRODUCED NO FORWARD MOVEMENT.
// ALTAF ACT //
IT HAS NOT BEEN POSSIBLE FOR THEM TO REACH AN
AGREEMENT. AS SUCH THE PAKISTAN-INDIA DIALOGUE REMAINS
STALEMATED AND NO PROGRESS HAS BEEN MADE IN COLOMBO.
AT THE HEART OF THE PROBLEM LIES THE RIGID AND
INFLEXIBLE POSITION WHICH INDIA CONTINUES TO MAINTAIN IN
ITS REFUSAL TO ADDRESS THE ISSUES OF PEACE AND SECURITY
AND THE JAMMU AND KASHMIR DISPUTE.
// END ACT //
THE FOREIGN SECRETARIES WERE TRYING TO WORK OUT A WAY TO RESUME
STALLED PEACE TALKS.
INDIAN FOREIGN SECRETARY K-RAGUNATH, FOR HIS PART, ALSO SAYS
THERE WAS NO PROGRESS IN THE MEETINGS. HE SAYS INDIA FAVORS A
BROAD DIALOGUE COVERING MANY ISSUES, WHILE PAKISTAN WANTS TO
FOCUS ON KASHMIR, A DISPUTED TERRITORY OVER WHICH THE NATIONS
HAVE FOUGHT TWO WARS.
// RAGUNATH ACT //
OUR APPROACH HAS ALL ALONG BEEN FOR A BROAD-BASED AND
COMPOSITE DIALOGUE WHICH WILL MOVE THE RELATIONSHIP
FORWARD ACROSS A BROAD FRONT. SUCH A COMPREHENSIVE,
CONSTRUCTIVE AND SUSTAINED DIALOGUE WOULD BUILD MUTUAL
TRUST AND CONFIDENCE, PROMOTE COOPERATION IN AREAS OF
MUTUAL BENEFIT, AND ADDRESS BILATERAL ISSUES ON WHICH
THE TWO COUNTRIES DO NOT SEE EYE-TO-EYE.
// END ACT //
MR. RAGUNATH SAYS AN OBSESSIVE FOCUS ON A SINGLE ISSUE IS, WHAT
HE TERMED, NEUROTIC. THE INDIAN FOREIGN SECRETARY ALSO REJECTED
A SET OF CONFIDENCE BUILDING MEASURES PROPOSED BY PAKISTAN AS
INTERFERENCE IN INDIA'S INTERNAL AFFAIRS. ONE OF THE MEASURES
CALLED FOR NEW DELHI TO REDUCE ITS SECURITY FORCES IN INDIAN
KASHMIR.
HOWEVER, BOTH THE INDIAN AND PAKISTANI OFFICIALS SAY THEY WILL
CONTINUE CONTACTS THROUGH DIPLOMATIC CHANNELS IN EFFORTS TO GET A
DIALOGUE PROCESS UNDERWAY.
THEY ALSO SAY THE PRIME MINISTERS OF INDIA AND PAKISTAN ARE
EXPECTED TO MEET AT THE NON-ALIGNED SUMMIT IN DURBAN SOUTH AFRICA
IN EARLY SEPTEMBER. THE LEADERS MET BRIEFLY IN COLOMBO WHERE
THEY ATTENDED A SOUTH ASIAN SUMMIT. THIS WAS THEIR FIRST MEETING
SINCE INDIA AND PAKISTAN CONDUCTED NUCLEAR TESTS IN MAY,
PROMPTING CONCERNS ABOUT INCREASED TENSIONS BETWEEN THE TWO
RIVALS. (SIGNED)
NEB/DB/LTD/MMK
31-Jul-98 8:05 AM EDT (1205 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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