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DATE=5/16/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-249432
TITLE=PAK / KASHMIR FIGHTING (L)
BYLINE=SCOTT ANGER
DATELINE=ISLAMABAD
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
INTRO:   ARTILLERY EXCHANGES ARE REPORTED TO BE ESCALATING 
BETWEEN INDIA AND PAKISTAN,  ALONG THE BORDER OF THE DISPUTED 
TERRITORY OF KASHMIR.  FROM ISLAMABAD, CORRESPONDENT SCOTT ANGER 
REPORTS.
TEXT:   ARTILLERY AND MORTAR FIRE FROM INDIAN ARMY UNITS HAS 
REPORTEDLY DRIVEN HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE FROM THEIR VILLAGES EAST OF 
MUZAFFARABAD IN KASHMIR.
ROSHAN MUGHAL, A JOURNALIST IN THE AREA, SAYS THE SHELLING 
STARTED LATE SATURDAY NIGHT AND HAS CONTINUED IN THE KOTLI BORDER
REGION.
                        ///MUGHAL ACT///
         THERE, INDIAN TROOPS ARE FIRING UPON THE CIVILIAN 
         VILLAGES AND PEOPLE ARE GOING TO SAFER PLACES TO ESCAPE 
         THE INDIAN SHELLING.
                          ///END ACT///
// OPT // FIGHTING HAS ALSO INCREASED FARTHER NORTH, ALONG THE 
720-KILOMETER LINE OF CONTROL -- WHICH DIVIDES KASHMIR. // END 
OPT // 
LAST WEEK, PAKISTANI ARMY TROOPS REPORTEDLY CAPTURED A NUMBER OF 
BORDER POSTS NEAR KARGIL, ON THE INDIAN SIDE.  INDIA APPEARS TO 
BE TRYING TO RETAKE THEM AND HAS AIRLIFTED THOUSANDS OF TROOPS TO
THE REMOTE MOUNTAINOUS REGION, (WHICH IS ABOUT 280 KILOMETERS 
NORTHEAST OF SRINAGAR).  
BUT INDIAN OFFICIALS HAVE REFUSED TO CONFIRM THEY ARE ENGAGED IN 
ACTIVE COMBAT WITH PAKISTAN.  AND PAKISTAN'S FOREIGN MINISTER 
SARTAJ AZIZ SAYS SKIRMISHES OCCURRED IN THE KARGIL AREA BUT 
DECLINED TO GIVE ANY DETAILS.  PAKISTAN DOES SAY IT IS CONCERNED 
ABOUT THE INCREASE IN FIRING INCIDENTS BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES.
INDIA AND PAKISTAN HAVE FOUGHT TWO WARS OVER THE HIMALAYAN REGION
SINCE THE COUNTRIES DIVIDED IN 1947.  INDIA NOW CONTROLS 
TWO-THIRDS OF KASHMIR AND PAKISTAN THE REST.  
                        /// REST OPT ///
NEW DELHI ACCUSES ISLAMABAD OF FUNDING AN ARMED MUSLIM INSURGENCY
IN KASHMIR -- THE ONLY MUSLIM MAJORITY STATE OF HINDU-DOMINATED 
INDIA.   PAKISTAN DENIES THE CHARGE AND SAYS IT ONLY PROVIDES 
MORAL AND POLITICAL SUPPORT TO THE ONGOING STRUGGLE BY 
SEPARATISTS GROUPS WHO ARE FIGHTING FOR INDEPENDENCE -- OR FOR  
MERGER WITH PAKISTAN. (SIGNED)
NEB/SA/JO
16-May-99 10:20 AM EDT (1420 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.