DATE=9/24/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-239178
TITLE=INDIA-PAK TALKS (L)
BYLINE=DOUGLAS BAKSHIAN
DATELINE=NEW DELHI
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: A FORMER INDIAN FOREIGN SECRETARY HAS PRAISED A MOVE BY
PAKISTAN AND INDIA TO RESUME HIGH-LEVEL TALKS. NEW DELHI
CORRESPONDENT DOUGLAS BAKSHIAN HAS MORE ON THE STORY.
TEXT: J-N DIXIT, WHO SERVED AS FOREIGN SECRETARY IN THE EARLY
1990'S, SAYS THE DECISION BY INDIA AND PAKISTAN TO RESUME FOREIGN
SECRETARY-LEVEL TALKS IS A SMALL, BUT IMPORTANT STEP FORWARD.
// DIXIT ACT //
I DESCRIBE IT AS A POSITIVE DEVELOPMENT OUT OF A VERY
DIFFICULT SITUATION WHICH WAS CONTINUING FOR NEARLY
TWO-YEARS. AFTER RESUMING OUR DIALOGUE IN 1996 -- (FOR)
TWO YEARS WE WERE JUST DISCUSSING PROCEDURES. NOW WE
HAVE MOVED AWAY FROM THAT AND WE HAVE SAID, OKAY, LET US
START DISCUSSING SPECIFIC SUBJECTS. THAT IS AN
IMPROVEMENT.
// END ACT //
MR. DIXIT SAYS PEOPLE SHOULD NOT EXPECT IMMEDIATE RESULTS FROM
THE TALKS. HE SAYS THAT OVER TIME AND WITH SUSTAINED EFFORT,
INDIA AND PAKISTAN WILL BE ABLE TO COME UP WITH COMPROMISES ON
THE ISSUES THAT SEPARATE THEM.
THE PRIME MINISTERS OF INDIA AND PAKISTAN MET WEDNESDAY IN NEW
YORK AT THE U-N GENERAL ASSEMBLY SESSION AND LATER ANNOUNCED THE
RESUMPTION OF THE FOREIGN SECRETARY TALKS. A JOINT STATEMENT
SAYS THE DISCUSSIONS WILL BE HELD IN ISLAMABAD FROM OCTOBER 15TH
TO 18TH.
THE STATEMENT SAYS THE SIDES WILL BEGIN A SERIOUS DIALOGUE ON
CONFIDENCE BUILDING MEASURES, PEACE AND SECURITY, AND KASHMIR.
SIX OTHER ISSUES ON A MUTUAL AGENDA WILL BE ADDRESSED IN SEPARATE
MEETINGS IN NEW DELHI STARTING IN NOVEMBER.
INDIA AND PAKISTAN HAVE FOUGHT TWO WARS OVER KASHMIR, A DISPUTED
TERRITORY THAT IS DIVIDED BETWEEN THEM. THE FOREIGN-SECRETARY
TALKS HAVE BEEN STALLED FOR SOME TIME OVER HOW TO ADDRESS THE
KASHMIR ISSUE. (SIGNED)
NEB/RAE
24-Sep-98 7:47 AM EDT (1147 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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