DATE=5/14/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-249366
TITLE=INDIA / PAK/ FIRING (L ONLY)
BYLINE=ANJANA PASRICHA
DATELINE=NEW DELHI
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: INDIA AND PAKISTAN ARE TRADING ARTILLERY FIRE ACROSS THE
DISPUTED KASHMIR BORDER. ANJANA PASRICHA REPORTS FROM NEW DELHI,
INDIAN AUTHORITIES ARE DENYING REPORTS THAT PAKISTAN CAPTURED
INDIAN BORDER POSTS. THE FIGHTING IS REPORTED TO HAVE CLAIMED 17
LIVES.
TEXT: DEFENSE AUTHORITIES IN NEW DELHI SAY SHELLING CONTINUED FOR
THE SIXTH STRAIGHT DAY ACROSS THE KASHMIR BORDER IN THE KARGIL
SECTOR FRIDAY. KARGIL LIES 280 KILOMETERS NORTH EAST OF SRINAGAR.
THE CROSS-BORDER FIRING ESCALATED THURSDAY LEADING TO AN
ARTILLERY DUEL. THE UNITED NEWS OF INDIA SAYS 10 PAKISTANI
INFILTRATORS AND SEVEN INDIAN SOLDIERS WERE KILLED IN THE
FIGHTING -- BUT INDIAN AUTHORITIES ARE NOT CONFIRMING ANY
CASUALTIES.
INDIAN OFFICIALS SAY THE FIGHTING ERUPTED WHEN ARMED INFILTRATORS
FROM PAKISTAN ATTEMPTED TO CROSS THE BORDER UNDER THE COVER OF
HEAVY FIRING BY PAKISTANI TROOPS. DEFENSE MINISTER GEORGE
FERNANDES HAS DENIED REPORTS THAT PAKISTAN HAD CAPTURED INDIAN
POSTS. THE DEFENSE MINISTRY HAS ISSUED A STATEMENT SAYING KARGIL
TOWN IS SAFE.
PEOPLE LIVING IN VILLAGES CLOSE TO THE BORDER IN KARGIL HAVE FLED
THE AREA AFTER ONE CIVILIAN WAS KILLED IN THE FIRING EARLIER THIS
WEEK. SPORADIC EXCHANGES OF MORTAR AND GUNFIRE OCCUR FREQUENTLY
BETWEEN THE PAKISTANI AND INDIAN ARMIES WHO CONFRONT EACH OTHER
ALONG A 740-KILOMETER CEASEFIRE LINE THAT DIVIDES THE DISPUTED
KASHMIR REGION. TENSIONS RISE WHEN THE INTENSITY OF THE FIRING
INCREASES.
INDIA CONTROLS TWO-THIRDS OF KASHMIR, AND PAKISTAN THE REST OF
THE HIMALAYAN REGION. BOTH COUNTRIES CLAIM THE ENTIRE TERRITORY
AND HAVE FOUGHT TWO WARS OVER IT. (SIGNED)
NEB/AP/DWJ/KL
14-May-99 8:17 AM EDT (1217 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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