DATE=6/4/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-250224
TITLE=INDIA/FIGHTING (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=ANJANA PASRICHA
DATELINE=NEW DELHI
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: INDIAN AUTHORITIES ARE ACCUSING PAKISTAN OF ATTEMPTING TO
ALTER THE SO-CALLED LINE OF CONTROL THAT DIVIDES KASHMIR BETWEEN
INDIA AND PAKISTAN WITH THE HELP OF ARMED GUERRILLAS AGAINST WHOM
NEW DELHI HAS LAUNCHED A MASSIVE MILITARY OPERATION. FROM NEW
DELHI ANJANA PASRICHA REPORTS, THE INDIAN AIR AND GROUND
OFFENSIVE IN KASHMIR IS IN ITS TENTH DAY.
TEXT: INDIA'S FOREIGN MINISTRY HAS STRONGLY OBJECTED TO COMMENTS
MADE BY PAKISTAN FOREIGN MINISTER, SARTAZ AZIZ, THAT THE LINE OF
CONTROL BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES IS NOT CLEARLY DEFINED. IN A
STATEMENT, FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESMAN RAMINDER JASSAL SAYS THE
LINE OF CONTROL IS NOT SUBJECT TO NEGOTIATION, AND ITS
INTERPRETATION HAS NEVER BEEN QUESTIONED BY EITHER COUNTRY.
/// INSERT JASSAL ACT ///
IT IS SIGNIFICANT THAT SUCH FUNDAMENTAL ISSUES ARE BEING
RAISED IN THE WAKE OF PAKISTAN'S ARMED INTRUSION AND
AGGRESSION IN THE KARGIL SECTOR. THE COMMENTS OF THE
PAKISTAN FOREIGN MINISTER ARE EVIDENTLY A DEMONSTRATION
OF THEIR DESIGNS TO MANUFACTURE A RATIONALE FOR
AGGRESSION AND TO GAIN FOR IT AN EX-POST FACTO
RESPECTABILITY.
/// END JASSAL ACT ///
THE 740-KILOMETER LINE-OF-CONTROL SNAKES THROUGH THE HIGH
MOUNTAINS OF KASHMIR. ACCORDING TO MR. JASSAL, MAPS EXCHANGED
BETWEEN MILITARY AUTHORITIES OF THE TWO COUNTRIES IN 1972 HAVE
CLEARLY DELINEATED THIS BOUNDARY -- AND THIS WILL NOT BE THE
SUBJECT OF DISCUSSION WITH PAKISTAN.
MR. AZIZ HAS PROPOSED VISITING INDIA NEXT WEEK TO DISCUSS THE
CURRENT CRISIS. INDIA SAYS IT IS STILL DECIDING ON THE EXACT
DATES OF THE VISIT.
MR. JASSAL ALSO SAID INDIAN PRIME MINISTER ATAL BEHARI VAJPAYEE
HAS RECEIVED A LETTER FROM PRESIDENT CLINTON REGARDING THE KARGIL
CONFLICT. HE DID NOT GO INTO DETAIL ON WHAT THE U-S PRESIDENT
TOLD THE INDIAN GOVERNMENT ABOUT THE CONFLICT -- BUT HE DID SAY
PRESIDENT CLINTON HAS CALLED UPON PAKISTAN TO DEFUSE THE CRISIS.
///INSERT JASSAL ACT///
IN THE LETTER PRESIDENT CLINTON HAS INTIMATED THAT HE
HAS ALSO WRITTEN TO THE PRIME MINISTER OF PAKISTAN
CALLING UPON PAKISTAN TO TAKE IMMEDIATE STEPS TO DEFUSE
THE CRISIS AND TO RESPECT THE LINE OF CONTROL.
///END JASSAL ACT///
MEANWHILE INDIA CONTINUED AIR STRIKES FOR THE TENTH DAY TO REGAIN
TERRITORY THAT HAS BEEN CAPTURED BY GUERRILLAS. INDIAN OFFICIALS
IN KASHMIR ALSO SAY THEY HAVE INTELLIGENCE THAT AS MANY AS TWO TO
THREE THOUSAND MORE INFILTRATORS ARE POISED TO ENTER INDIAN
KASHMIR FROM PAKISTAN.
ACCORDING TO INDIAN DEFENSE OFFICIALS IN KARGIL, THEY HAVE
RECOVERED THE BODIES OF THREE PAKISTANI SOLDIERS, IDENTIFIED BY
PAPERS FOUND ON THEM.
AN INDIAN FIGHTER PILOT HELD BY PAKISTAN FOR MORE THAN A WEEK HAS
BEEN RETURNED TO INDIA. ANALYSTS HAD HOPED HIS RELEASE WOULD SET
THE STAGE FOR TALKS BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES -- BUT INDIA SAYS A
MEANINGFUL DIALOGUE CAN ONLY TAKE PLACE IF PAKISTAN AGREES TO
RESPECT THE SANCTITY OF THE LINE OF CONTROL. (SIGNED)
NEB/AP/LTD
04-Jun-99 10:08 AM EDT (1408 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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