DATE=6/1/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-250064
TITLE=INDIA / FIGHTING (L ONLY)
BYLINE=ANJANA PASRICHA
DATELINE=NEW DELHI
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: FOLLOWING A WEEK OF AIR STRIKES IN KASHMIR, INDIA SAYS IT
IS ACHIEVING SUCCESS AGAINST WHAT IT CALLS PAKISTAN-BACKED
INFILTRATORS. CROSS-BORDER FIRING IS REPORTED TO HAVE
INTENSIFIED ALONG NEW SECTIONS OF THE KASHMIR BORDER, AS BOTH
SIDES HAVE DEPLOYED MORE TROOPS IN THE TENSE REGION. ANJANA
PASRICHA REPORTS FROM NEW DELHI ON THE LARGEST MILITARY OPERATION
LAUNCHED BY INDIA IN THE HIMALAYAN REGION SINCE ITS 1971 WAR WITH
PAKSITAN.
TEXT: DEFENSE OFFICIALS SAID TUESDAY THERE IS INTENSE FIGHTING
IN THE BATALIK SECTOR -- ONE OF THE BORDER REGIONS IN KASHMIR
WHERE GUERRILLAS HAVE CAPTURED HIGH MOUNTAIN PEAKS.
ACCORDING TO GROUP CAPTAIN K. RAJARAM, JET FIGHTERS HAVE TARGETED
NEW GUERRILLA POSITIONS, DESPITE ICY WINDS AND SNOWFALL.
/// INSERT RAJARAM ACT ///
IN SPITE OF CLOUDY, INCLEMENT WEATHER IN THE MOUNTAINS,
AIRCRAFT WAS UTILISED TO ATTACK CERTAIN NEW TARGETS IN
THE KARGIL SECTOR AND THE BATALIK SECTOR, BUT ENTIRELY
WITHIN OUR AREAS.
/// END RAJARAM ACT ///
MEANWHILE, HEAVY CROSS-BORDER ARTILLERY SHELLING IS BEING
REPORTED FROM NEW AREAS IN SOUTHEASTERN KASHMIR. INDIAN DEFENSE
OFFICIALS ADMIT THE LINE OF CONTROL THAT DIVIDES THE TWO
COUNTRIES IS "LIVE" -- THAT IS, A LOT OF MILITARY ACTION IS
TAKING PLACE THERE.
HOWEVER THEY ARE DENYING REPORTS FROM ISLAMABAD THAT PAKISTAN
REPULSED THREE INDIAN ATTACKS ON THE BORDER, AND THAT INDIAN
ARTILLERY KILLED 10 PAKISTANI SCHOOLCHILDREN. INDIAN OFFICIALS
SAY THEY ARE RESTRICTING THEIR FIRE TO MILITARY TARGETS. DEFENSE
OFFICIALS IN NEW DELHI ALSO SAY INDIA HAS INCREASED ITS MILITARY
PRESENCE ALL ALONG THE BORDER TO PREVENT PAKISTAN FROM TRYING TO
INFILTRATE INTO NEW REGIONS.
DEFENSE ANALYST BRAHMA CHELLANEY, WHO IS WITH THE INDEPENDENT
CENTER OF POLICY RESEARCH, SAYS WITH THE TROOP BUILD-UP ON BOTH
SIDES, THERE IS DANGER OF THE CONFLICT SPREADING TO OTHER PARTS
OF THE KASHMIR BORDER.
/// INSERT CHELLANEY ACT ///
IF THEY (PAKISTAN) DO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THE REBELS WHO
ARE HOLED UP IN THE HEIGHTS OF KARGIL, THEN I THINK THE
INDIAN MILITARY WOULD HAVE TO OPEN NEW PRESSURE POINTS.
THERE IS A POSSIBILITY OF A LITTLE WIDER CONFLICT --
RESTRICTED THOUGH TO THE LINE OF ACTUAL CONTROL IN
KASHMIR. THERE IS LITTLE POSSIBILITY OF FULL-SCALE OPEN
WAR BETWEEN INDIA AND PAKISTAN. BUT I THINK THERE IS A
REAL DANGER NOW THAT THE CONFLICT COULD SPREAD TO SOME
OTHER POINTS.
/// INSERT CHELLANEY ACT ///
INDIAN TROOPS ARE ALSO CONCENTRATING ON SAFEGUARDING A STRATEGIC
HIGHWAY BETWEEN SRINAGAR AND LEH IN THE LADAKH REGION. THIS IS A
KEY SUPPLY ROUTE TO THE AREA WHERE THE FIGHTING IS TAKING PLACE.
GUERRILLAS ARE REPORTED TO BE ATTACKING MILITARY CONVOYS ON THE
ROAD FROM A POSITION OF ADVANTAGE ON HIGH PEAKS.
INDIA SAYS IT HAS SUFFERED 46 CASUALTIES IN THE WEEK-LONG
OPERATION. 174 SOLDIERS HAVE BEEN WOUNDED. DEFENSE OFFICIALS SAY
THEY ARE ACHIEVING SUCCESS AGAINST THE GUERRILLAS -- BUT WILL
NEED TIME TO DISLODGE THEM FROM THE MOUNTAIN PEAKS WHERE THEY ARE
ENTRENCHED.
MEANWHILE THE FOREIGN MINISTRY SAYS NO DATES HAVE YET BEEN SET
FOR A VISIT BY THE PAKISTANI FOREIGN MINSITER TO NEW DELHI. THE
VISIT IS AIMED AT DEFUSING TENSIONS BETWEEN THE NUCLEAR-ARMED
NEIGHBORS. INDIA AND PAKISTAN HAVE FOUGHT TWO WARS OVER KASHMIR.
(SIGNED)
NEB/AP/KL
01-Jun-99 10:10 AM EDT (1410 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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