DATE=10/12/98
TYPE=BACKGROUND REPORT
NUMBER=5-41576
TITLE=PAKISTAN / INDIA TALKS
BYLINE=DOUGLAS BAKSHIAN
DATELINE=NEW DELHI
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: A FORMER INDIAN PRIME MINISTER SAYS THE UPCOMING TALKS
BETWEEN THE FOREIGN SECRETARIES OF PAKISTAN AND INDIA ARE AN
IMPORTANT DEVELOPMENT AND HE HOPES SOME CONFIDENCE BUILDING
MEASURES WILL EMERGE FROM THE MEETINGS. VOA NEW DELHI
CORRESPONDENT DOUGLAS BAKSHIAN REPORTS THE DISCUSSIONS ARE TO
BEGIN LATE THIS WEEK (SCHEDULED OCTOBER 15TH).
TEXT: INDER KUMAR GUJRAL TOLD VOA THAT GIVEN THE STATE OF
INCREASED TENSIONS FOLLOWING THE MAY NUCLEAR TESTS BY INDIA AND
PAKISTAN -- THE FACT THAT THE NATIONS ARE EVEN TALKING IS AN
ACHIEVEMENT.
// GUJRAL ACT //
I THINK PARTICULARLY AFTER THE NUCLEAR TESTS, IT IS
EXTREMELY IMPORTANT THAT BOTH NEIGHBORS TALK TO EACH
OTHER AND SORT OUT THE ISSUES BILATERALLY THROUGH
NEGOTIATIONS. THE NUCLEAR TESTS IMPLY ONE THING -- THAT
BOTH HAVE A DETERRENT. AND THEREFORE WITH A PROVEN
DETERRENT IN BOTH HANDS ALL TYPES OF WARS, SKIRMISHES
SHOULD BE RULED OUT COMPLETELY. AND ONLY ONE PASSAGE
SHOULD BE KEPT AND THAT PASSAGE IS NEGOTIATIONS.
// END ACT //
THE FOREIGN SECRETARIES ARE TO ADDRESS ISSUES INCLUDING PEACE AND
SECURITY AS WELL AS KASHMIR, A DISPUTED TERRITORY OVER WHICH
INDIA AND PAKISTAN HAVE FOUGHT TWO WARS.
THE OFFICIALS ARE ALSO EXPECTED TO REVIEW CONFIDENCE BUILDING
MEASURES, INCLUDING A PROPOSAL FOR DAILY BUS SERVICE BETWEEN THE
PAKISTANI CITY OF LAHORE AND THE INDIAN CAPITAL, NEW DELHI. MANY
FAMILIES WERE DIVIDED WHEN PAKISTAN AND INDIA WERE SEPARATED AT
INDEPENDENCE IN 1947 AND MR. GUJRAL SAYS THE BUS SERVICE WOULD
GREATLY INCREASE FAMILY VISITS.
// GUJRAL ACT //
YOU WILL KINDLY RECALL THAT FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS I
HAVE BEEN TRYING TO MAKE TRAVEL EASIER BETWEEN THE TWO
OF US. WE HAVE UNILATERALLY LIBERALIZED BUS SERVICE
ALSO. ANDI IF THIS BUS SERVICE STARTS THIS IS ONE BIG
GAIN BECAUSE THE FAMILIES WHICH ARE SPLIT -- THAT IS
SOME PEOPLE LIVE IN INDIA AND SOME LIVE IN PAKISTAN --
TRAVEL IS VERY EXPENSIVE. THE DISTANCE BETWEEN DELHI AND
LAHORE IS ONLY ABOUT 200 MILES (320 KILOMETERS). AND
THIS 200 MILES COSTS A LOT OF MONEY IF YOU GO BY AIR.
AND IF YOU LET THE TRAFFIC COME ON THE ROADS IT SERVES
THE POOR OF BOTH COUNTRIES.
// END ACT //
FAMILY VISITS ARE AN EMOTIONAL ISSUE IN THE REGION AND THE BUS
SERVICE IS SEEN AS AN IMPORTANT GOODWILL GESTURE.
MR. GUJRAL SAYS THE DIALOGUE PROCESS BETWEEN INDIA AND PAKISTAN
IS VITAL. HE SAYS THERE WILL BE FRUSTRATIONS ALONG THE WAY, BUT
THE DETERMINATION TO SUCCEED MUST SURVIVE. IT HAS BEEN MORE THAN
ONE YEAR SINCE THE FOREIGN SECRETARIES HELD THEIR LAST ROUND OF
FORMAL TALKS. (SIGNED)
NEB/DB/CB/KL
12-Oct-98 7:14 AM EDT (1114 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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