DATE=10/18/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-240362
TITLE=INDIA TALKS (L)
BYLINE=DOUGLAS BAKSHIAN
DATELINE=ISLAMABAD
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: THE FOREIGN SECRETARIES OF PAKISTAN AND INDIA HAVE ENDED
THREE-DAYS OF PEACE TALKS IN ISLAMABAD BY AGREEING TO MEET AGAIN
IN FEBRUARY. CORRESPONDENT DOUGLAS BAKSHIAN REPORTS FROM
PAKISTAN'S CAPITAL.
TEXT: IN A JOINT STATEMENT, INDIA AND PAKISTAN SAID THEY
DISCUSSED KASHMIR, PEACE AND SECURITY AND CONFIDENCE BUILDING
MEASURES, AND THESE ISSUES WILL BE ADDRESSED IN THE NEXT TALKS.
PAKISTANI ENVOY SHAMSHAD AHMAD INDICATED WAYS TO AVERT A NUCLEAR
CONFLICT WERE AN IMPORTANT FEATURE OF THE NEGOTIATIONS.
// AHMAD ACT //
THE ACQUISITION BY INDIA AND THEN BY PAKISTAN OF NUCLEAR
WEAPONS CAPABILITY POSES A VERY HEAVY RESPONSIBILITY ON
BOTH SIDES TO ENSURE THAT THESE DEVASTATING WEAPONS
WOULD NEVER BE USED.
// END ACT //
INDIAN ENVOY K-RAGHUNATH SAYS INDIA OFFERED A
NO-FIRST-USE-OF-NUCLEAR WEAPONS PROPOSAL. PAKISTAN HAS CALLED
THIS CONCEPT OUTDATED, AND SAYS ANY BILATERAL NON-AGRESSION PACT
WITH INDIA SHOULD INCLUDE LIMITS ON THE PRODUCTION OF NUCLEAR
ARMS. FEARS OF A NUCLEAR ARMS RACE WERE TRIGGERED LAST MAY WHEN
BOTH NATIONS CONDUCTED NUCLEAR TESTS.
ALTHOUGH THE DELEGATES WERE NOT ABLE TO AGREE ON CONFIDENCE
BUILDING MEASURES, BOTH OFFICIALS DENIED THE TALKS FAILED.
INDIAN ENVOY RAGHUNATH SAYS THE NEGOTIATIONS MAY RUN INTO
OBSTACLES BUT THESE CAN BE OVERCOME.
// RAGHUNATH ACT //
BOTH OUR COUNTRIES ARE COMMITTED TO ENGAGING OURSELVES
IN A SERIOUS, SUSTAINED, AND COMPREHENSIVE COMPOSITE
DIALOGUE PROCESS, AND IN THIS PROCESS IT IS INEVITABLE
THAT THERE WILL BE DIFFERENCES. BUT WHAT IS IMPORTANT
IS THAT WE REMAIN ENGAGED, WITH A VIEW TO GETTING AROUND
THESE DIFFICULTIES.
// END ACT //
PAKISTANI FOREIGN SECRETARY AHMAD ALSO SAYS PEOPLE SHOULD NOT
EXPECT QUICK RESULTS FROM THE NEGOTIATIONS.
// AHMAD ACT //
I MUST EMPHASIZE THAT THESE TALKS, PERHAPS, REPRESENTED
THE FIRST SUBSTANTIVE EFFORT IN A LONG TIME BETWEEN OUR
TWO COUNTRIES TO ADDRESS THE ISSUES OF PEACE AND
SECURITY AND THE JAMMU AND KASHMIR ISSUE.
// END ACT //
PAKISTAN HAS INDICATED PROGRESS WILL BE NEEDED ON THE KASHMIR
DISPUTE FOR THE TWO NATIONS TO MOVE FORWARD IN OTHER AREAS.
THESE ARE THE FIRST HIGH-LEVEL TALKS BETWEEN ISLAMABAD AND NEW
DELHI IN MORE THAN ONE-YEAR.
ANALYSTS SAY THE TALKS HAVE RESUMED BECAUSE OF INTERNATIONAL
PRESSURE, MOST NOTABLY FROM THE UNITED STATES, WHICH HAS IMPOSED
SANCTIONS ON BOTH COUNTRIES BECAUSE OF THEIR RECENT NUCLEAR
TESTS. (SIGNED)
NEB/DB/DWJ/RAE
18-Oct-98 7:50 AM EDT (1150 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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