DATE=5/30/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-249986
TITLE=INDIA / KASHMIR FIGHTING (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=ANJANA PASRICHA
DATELINE=NEW DELHI
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: INDIA SAYS ITS MILITARY OPERATION IN KASHMIR IS IN FULL
SWING. THE INDIAN ARMED FORCES ARE TARGETING GUERRILLA POSITIONS
OCCUPIED BY WHAT IT SAYS ARE INFILTRATORS FROM PAKISTAN. ANJANA
PASRICHA HAS DETAILS FROM NEW DELHI ON THE FIFTH DAY OF INDIA'S
MILITARY OPERATION.
TEXT: DEFENSE SPOKESMAN, MAJOR GENERAL J.J. SINGH SAYS JETS AND
HELICOPTER GUNSHIPS, AS WELL AS GROUND TROOPS ARE CONTINUING THE
MILITARY OPERATION ON HIGH MOUNTAIN PEAKS ALONG THE KASHMIR
BORDER "RELENTLESSLY."
///INSERT SINGH ACT///
THE JOINT OPERATIONS AGAINST THE INTRUDERS IN THE KARGIL SECTOR
HAVE CONTINUED RELENTLESSLY AND WITH FULL ZEAL, AND INTELLIGENCE
REPORTS AND FEEDBACK FROM THE GROUND TROOPS INDICATES STEADY
PROGRESS IN ALL SECTORS.
///END SINGH ACT///
OFFICIALS SAY MOST OF THE LOWER RIDGES IN THE DRAS, BATALIK AND
KARGIL REGIONS ON THE INDIAN BORDER HAVE BEEN CLEARED OF
INFILTRATORS. AN ARMY COMMANDER IN THE DRAS REGION SAYS TROOPS
ARE NOW BRACING FOR HAND-TO-HAND COMBAT AS THEY DRAW CLOSER TO
THE GUERRILLA CAMPS. AN INDIAN ARMY OFFICER WAS KILLED IN THIS
TYPE OF FIGHTING THIS WEEKEND.
BUT DEFENSE OFFICIALS ALSO SAY, INDIAN TROOPS ARE PREPARING FOR A
PROLONGED OFFENSIVE AGAINST HEAVILY-ARMED GUERRILLAS WHO ARE
ENTRENCHED ON THE HIGHER PEAKS. THERE HAS BEEN LITTLE MILITARY
ACTIVITY IN THIS AREA -- AND REINFORCEMENTS OF TROOPS AND
SUPPLIES ARE BEING SENT TO THE REGION.
AIR MARSHAL S.K. MALIK SAYS THE AIR FORCE HAS TO CONTEND WITH
DIFFICULT TARGETS ALONG A 140 KILOMETER SECTION OF THE
INDIA-PAKISTAN BORDER WHERE THE FIGHTING IS TAKING PLACE.
///INSERT MALIK ACT///
THERE ARE HEIGHTS IN THESE AREAS, THERE ARE RIDGES, THERE ARE
VALLEYS. SOME OF THOSE INTRUDERS ARE ON TOP OF THOSE MOUNTAINS,
WE HAVE TO KNOW WHERE THEY ARE. WE HAVE TO TACKLE THEM FIRST FROM
THE AIR, AND THEN ONLY THE GROUND FORCES WILL MOVE IN AND OCCUPY.
IN A TERRAIN LIKE THIS. IT IS AN EFFORT WHICH WILL TAKE A LITTLE
TIME.
///END MALIK ACT///
ON SUNDAY THE MILITARY OPENED THE AIRPORT AT SRINAGAR -- THE
SUMMER CAPITAL OF KASHMIR -- TO CIVILIAN FLIGHTS FOR THE FIRST
TIME SINCE AIR STRIKES BEGAN WEDNESDAY.
MEANWHILE INDIA SAYS IT IS CONSIDERING PAKISTAN'S OFFER OF
SENDING ITS FOREIGN MINISTER TO NEW DELHI FOR TALKS. INDIA AND
PAKISTAN HAVE FOUGHT TWO OF THEIR THREE WARS OVER KASHMIR. BOTH
SIDES SAY THEY DO NOT WANT THE CURRENT CONFLICT TO ESCALATE --
BUT INDIA SAYS IT IS DETERMINED TO REGAIN ITS TERRITORY THAT IS
OCCUPIED BY THE GUERRILLAS. (SIGNED)
NEB/AP/PLM
30-May-99 5:44 AM EDT (0944 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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