DATE=8/4/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-236479
TITLE=INDIA / KASHMIR (L)
BYLINE=ANJANA PASRICHA
DATELINE=NEW DELHI
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: TENSION REMAINS HIGH ALONG THE INDIAN AND PAKISTANI
BORDER AS ARMIES FROM BOTH NATIONS CONTINUE TO EXCHANGE ARTILLERY
FIRE ACROSS THE DISPUTED KASHMIR BORDER. ANJANA PASRICHA REPORTS
FROM OUR NEW DELHI BUREAU, INDIAN AUTHORITIES ARE REPORTING THREE
NEW CASUALTIES (TUESDAY) FROM THE FIRING THAT HAS CLAIMED DOZENS
OF LIVES ON BOTH SIDES OF THE BORDER.
TEXT: CROSS BORDER FIRING BETWEEN INDIA AND PAKSITAN CONTINUED
FOR THE SIXTH-DAY ALONG THE KASHMIRI BORDER.
AN INDIAN DEFENSE MINISTRY SPOKESMAN SAYS THERE WAS RENEWED
FIRING IN THE BARAMULLAH AND KUPWARA SECTORS AFTER THE INTENSITY
OF THE ARTILLERY AND MORTAR SHELLING HAD BEGUN TO TAPER OFF
MONDAY.
BOTH SIDES ACCUSE EACH OTHER OF TRIGGERING THE FIRING. GUNFIRE
IS ROUTINE ALONG THE FRONTIER, BUT INDIAN AND PAKSITANI
AUTHORITIES SAY THE SCALE OF THE RECENT FIRING IS UNPRECEDENTED.
/// OPT /// INDIAN OFFICIALS ALSO BLAMED KASHMIRI SEPARATISTS
FOR VIOLENCE IN THE TROUBLED STATE. THEY SAID SUSPECTED MUSLIM
GUERRILLAS KILLED 19 PEOPLE CLOSE TO POONCH DISTRICT FOLLOWING A
DISPUTE BETWEEN TWO RIVAL MILITANT GROUPS. /// END OPT ///
IN NEW DELHI, PRIME MINISTER ATAL BEHARI VAJPAYEE TOLD LAWMAKERS
INDIA WOULD SUSTAIN EFFORTS FOR PEACE WITH PAKISTAN, DESPITE
RISING TENSIONS. HE SAID ATTEMPTS BY PAKISTAN TO MAKE KASHMIR A
FLASHPOINT WOULD NOT SUCCEED.
MR. VAJPAYEE ACCUSED ISLAMABAD OF SHOWING NO INTEREST IN A
BILATERAL DIALOGUE WITH INDIA BECAUSE IT WANTS INTERNATIONAL
MEDIATION ON KASHMIR. BUT MR. VAJPAYEE SAYS INDIA WILL NOT
ACCEPT MEDIATION BY A THIRD PARTY IN THE PROCESS.
THE INDIAN PRIME MINISTER'S INSISTENCE ON A BILATERAL DIALOGUE
CAME AS PAKISTAN'S FOREIGN MINISTER, GOHAR AYUB KHAN, SAID NEW
DELHI SHOULD ACCEPT OUTSIDE MEDIATION TO DEFUSE TENSION OVER THE
DISPUTED HIMALAYAN REGION.
TENSIONS INCREASED BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES AFTER THEY CONDUCTED
NUCLEAR TESTS IN MAY, PROMPTING RENEWED INTERNATIONAL PRESSURE ON
BOTH NATIONS TO SOLVE THEIR DISPUTE.
BUT EFFORTS TO RESUME A DIALOGUE STALLED LAST WEEK AFTER PAKISTAN
SAID KASHMIR IS THE KEY ISSUE TO BE DISCUSSED, WHILE INDIA
INSISTED IT WAS ONLY ONE OF SEVERAL ISSUES TO BE SETTLED.
KASHMIR, WHICH IS CLAIMED BY BOTH NATIONS, IS DIVIDED ALONG A
CEASEFIRE LINE. INDIA AND PAKISTAN HAVE FOUGHT TWO WARS FOR
CONTROL OF THE REGION. (SIGNED)
NEB/RAE
04-Aug-98 9:07 AM EDT (1307 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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