DATE=11/13/98
TYPE=BACKGROUND REPORT
NUMBER=5-41852
TITLE=PAK/INDIA TALKS
BYLINE=DOUGLAS BAKSHIAN
DATELINE=NEW DELHI
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: INDIA AND PAKISTAN FRIDAY CONCLUDED SIX DAYS OF TALKS IN
NEW DELHI ON ISSUES RANGING FROM WATER AND MILITARY DISPUTES TO
CULTURAL EXCHANGES. VOA CORRESPONDENT DOUGLAS BAKSHIAN REPORTS
THE DIALOGUE PRODUCED NO PROGRESS IN KEY AREAS BUT IS SEEN AS A
WAY TO LOWER TENSIONS BETWEEN THE HISTORICAL RIVALS. (EDITORS:
THERE WERE SIX SEPARATE DAYS OF TALKS SPREAD OUT OVER A NINE-DAY
PERIOD)
TEXT: ANALYSTS SAY PAKISTAN AND INDIA HAVE ACHIEVED LITTLE MORE
THAN RESTATING THEIR POSITIONS ON LONG-STANDING DISPUTES. ON
THURSDAY THE SIDES ACCUSED EACH OTHER OF SUPPORTING TERRORISM. IN
EARLIER TALKS PAKISTAN REJECTED AN INDIAN OFFER FOR A CEASEFIRE
ON THE HEAVILY MILITARIZED SIACHEN GLACIER. DISCUSSIONS ON A
RIVER WATER DISPUTE AND OTHER MATTERS PRODUCED SIMILAR RESULTS.
DESPITE THE SEEMING IMPASSE, ANALYSTS SAY THE DIALOGUE PROCESS
ITSELF HELPS TO EASE TENSIONS. BRAHMA CHELLANEY, OF THE CENTER
FOR POLICY RESEARCH IN NEW DELHI, SAYS THIS ROUND OF TALKS IS
ONLY PART OF A LARGER DIPLOMATIC PROCESS.
// CHELLANEY ACT //
ONE HAS TO REMEMBER THAT THESE TWO COUNTRIES HAVE RESTARTED A
DIALOGUE AFTER A GAP OF SIX TO SEVEN YEARS ON THESE DISPUTES.
THEREFORE IT WOULD HAVE BEEN TOO MUCH TO EXPECT THAT AFTER
REOPENING THE DIALOGUE THEY WOULD MAKE IMMEDIATE PROGRESS ON
THESE DEEP ROOTED DISPUTES THAT THEY HAVE. THE VERY FACT THAT
THEY HAVE RESTARTED DIALOGUE AND THEY ARE DISCUSSING WAYS TO
LOWER TENSIONS, WAYS TO RESOLVE SOME OF THESE DISPUTES, IS BY
ITSELF AN IMPORTANT STEP FORWARD. BUT I THINK THE FACT THAT THERE
HAS BEEN LITTLE OR NO PROGRESS IN THE KEY AREAS IS NOT A
SURPRISE.
// END ACT //
SOME OBSERVERS DESCRIBED THE TALKS AS AN EXERCISE IN PUBLIC
RELATIONS TO SATISFY WORLD OPINION. INDIA AND PAKISTAN RECEIVED
STRONG INTERNATIONAL CONDEMNATION FOLLOWING THEIR NUCLEAR TESTS
IN MAY AND BOTH COUNTRIES CAME UNDER PRESSURE TO EASE TENSIONS.
MR.CHELLANEY SAYS THE NUCLEAR FACTOR GAVE A NEW URGENCY TO THE
NEED FOR IMPROVED RELATIONS BETWEEN THE OLD RIVALS.
// CHELLANEY ACT //
PARTLY IT WAS A P-R EXERCISE. THEY WERE TRYING TO TELL THEIR OWN
CITIZENS AND THE REST OF THE WORLD THAT THEY ARE ENGAGED IN
IMPROVING THEIR BATTERED RELATIONS. BUT I THINK THERE IS ALSO A
GENUINE RECOGNITION ON BOTH SIDES, THAT WITH BOTH COUNTRIES
HAVING GONE OVERTLY NUCLEAR SIX MONTHS AGO, THAT THEY NEED TO
ESTABLISH LINES OF COMMUNICATION, THEY NEED TO FIND WAYS TO
ENSURE THAT THINGS WON'T GO OUT OF CONTROL. AND THAT THE TWO ARE
ACTUALLY RESPONSIBLE NATIONS THAT CAN LIVE IN PEACE WITHOUT EVERY
DISPUTE SPILLING INTO OPEN CONFLICT.
// END ACT //
INDIA AND PAKISTAN HAVE FOUGHT THREE WARS, TWO OF THEM OVER THE
DISPUTED KASHMIR REGION. PAKISTAN SAYS THAT UNTIL THERE IS
PROGRESS ON KASHMIR, THE SIDES CANNOT IMPROVE RELATIONS IN OTHER
AREAS. KASHMIR WAS NOT COVERED IN THIS ROUND OF TALKS AND IS
BEING ADDRESSED IN SEPARATE DISCUSSIONS BETWEEN THE FOREIGN
SECRETARIES OF BOTH NATIONS. THE FOREIGN SECRETARIES ARE NEXT
SCHEDULED TO MEET IN FEBRUARY. (SIGNED)
NEB/DB/DWJ/PLM
13-Nov-98 7:41 AM EST (1241 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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