DATE=6/3/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-250171
TITLE=INDIA / PAK / KASHMIR / L
BYLINE=JIM TEEPLE
DATELINE=NEW DELHI
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: INDIA IS ACCUSING PAKISTAN OF UNPROVOKED SHELLING OF
CIVILIAN AREAS INSIDE INDIAN TERRITORY IN KASHMIR. THE
ACCUSATION COMES AS INDIAN JETS CARRIED OUT A NINTH STRAIGHT DAY
OF ATTACKS AGAINST POSITIONS OCCUPIED BY WHAT INDIA DESCRIBES AS
INFILTRATORS FROM PAKISTAN. VOA'S JIM TEEPLE REPORTS INDIAN
OFFICIALS ARE NOW SAYING THEY WERE MISQUOTED WHEN THEY WERE
REPORTED TO HAVE OFFERED THE INFILTRATORS SAFE PASSAGE BACK TO
PAKISTAN IF THEY STOPPED FIGHTING.
TEXT: INDIA SAYS PAKISTAN SHELLED AT LEAST FIVE CIVILIAN AREAS
WELL INSIDE INDIAN KASHMIR ON THURSDAY. INDIAN AND PAKISTANI
ARTILLERY HAVE BEEN EXCHANGING FIRE ACROSS THE KASHMIR BORDER FOR
SOME TIME, BUT INDIAN COMMANDERS SAY THURSDAY'S SHELLING WAS
UNPROVOKED AND AIMED AT CIVILIAN TARGETS.
SENIOR INDIAN OFFICIALS NOW SAY THEY NEVER OFFERED THE
INFILTRATORS SAFE PASSAGE BACK TO PAKISTAN IF THEY QUIT FIGHTING.
RAMINDER JASSAL, THE SPOKESMAN FOR INDIA'S MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL
AFFAIRS, SAYS TOP LEADERS IN INDIA WERE MISQUOTED WHEN THEY
SUGGESTED THE INFILTRATORS COULD BE GIVEN SAFE PASSAGE BACK TO
PAKISTAN.
// INSERT JASSAL ACTUALITY //
THE PRIME MINISTER HAS BEEN MISQUOTED JUST AS THE
DEFENSE MINISTER WAS QUOTED OUT OF CONTEXT. ALLOW ME TO
EMPHASIZE, THERE IS NO QUESTION OF SAFE PASSAGE TO
ARMED INTRUDERS THAT HAVE COMMITTED AGGRESSION.
// END ACTUALITY //
COMMENTS MADE BY PRIME MINISTER ATAL BEHARI VAJPAYEE ON WEDNESDAY
REGARDING SAFE PASSAGE BEING GIVEN TO THE INTRUDERS PROVOKED A
STORM OF PROTEST IN NEW DELHI ON THURSDAY. SEVERAL SENIOR
RETIRED OFFICERS SAID THE PRIME MINISTER'S STATEMENT WOULD
DEMORALIZE SOLDIERS AND AIRMEN FIGHTING IN FRIGID CONDITIONS IN
KASHMIR. REPRESENTATIVES OF ISLAMIC MILITANTS FIGHTING IN
KASHMIR ALSO REJECTED THE REPORTED OFFER OF SAFE PASSAGE, SAYING
THEY ARE NOT GOING TO QUIT FIGHTING.
INDIAN COMMANDERS CONTINUE TO INSIST PAKISTAN IS DIRECTLY HELPING
THE INFILTRATORS, WHOM THEY DESCRIBE AS AFGHAN MERCENARIES.
COMMANDERS SAY PAKISTANI ARMY REGULARS ARE IN SOME CASES FIGHTING
ALONGSIDE THE INFILTRATORS, ALTHOUGH THEY HAVE YET TO FURNISH
DOCUMENTARY PROOF SHOWING THIS TO BE THE CASE.
// OPT // COMMANDERS ARE ALSO DEFENDING THEIR TACTICS. ARMY
BRIGADIER MOHAN BHANDARI SAYS FIGHTING IS TAKING PLACE AT HEIGHTS
OF FOUR THOUSAND METERS, AND THAT IS WHY IT IS TAKING SO LONG TO
DISLODGE THE INFILTRATORS.
// INSERT BHANDARI ACTUALITY //
ANY MOVEMENT IN THAT RAREIFIED ATMOSPHERE, WHERE THERE
IS VERY LITTLE OXYGEN, IS DIFFICULT. IT TAKES TIME TO
BREATHE AND MANUVER. THEREFORE IT TAKES TIME.
// END ACTUALITY // // END OPT //
MEANWHILE, AN INDIAN NEWSPAPER SAYS THE INDIAN ARMY IS ABOUT TO
COMPLETE A DEAL TO PURCHASE SPARE ARTILLERY SHELLS FROM A SOUTH
AFRICAN COMPANY. THE INDIAN EXPRESS NEWSPAPER REPORTS STOCKS OF
THE TYPES OF SHELLS USED IN KASHMIR ARE RUNNING LOW, AND THE
DEFENSE MINISTRY IS BUYING 25-THOUSAND 155-MILLIMETER SHELLS FOR
INDIAN HOWITZERS.
THE INDIAN EXPRESS SAYS THE GOVERNMENT ALSO PLANS TO BUY SPARE
SHELLS FROM OTHER FOREIGN COMPANIES BASED IN ISRAEL AND RUSSIA.
ACCORDING TO THE NEWSPAPER, DOMESTIC PRODUCTION OF ARTILLERY
SHELLS HAS BEEN PUT ON HOLD BECAUSE OF DIFFICULTY OBTAINING SPARE
PARTS. THE SHORTAGE IS THE RESULT OF SANCTIONS IMPOSED BY THE
UNITED STATES LAST YEAR FOLLOWING INDIA'S NUCLEAR TESTS. (SIGNED)
NEB/JLT/LTD/KL
03-Jun-99 10:06 AM EDT (1406 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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