DATE=6/5/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-250266
TITLE=INDIA/PAKISTAN (L)
BYLINE=ANJANA PASRICHA
DATELINE=NEW DELHI
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: INDIA HAS DECIDED TO DELAY TALKS WITH PAKISTAN PROPOSED
ON THE KASHMIR CRISIS. ANJANA PASRICHA REPORTS, INDIA'S MILITARY
OPERATION IN KASHMIR IS IN ITS 11TH DAY, AND INDIAN AUTHORITIES
HAVE SEALED OFF THE BORDER REGION WHERE FIGHTING IS TAKING PLACE
TO CIVILIANS -- INCLUDING JOURNALISTS.
TEXT: ISLAMABAD HAD PROPOSED TO SEND ITS FOREIGN MINISTER, SARTAZ
AZIZ, TO NEW DELHI ON MONDAY FOR TALKS ON THE ONGOING BORDER
CONFLICT IN KASHMIR. BUT INDIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESMAN,
RAMINDER JASSAL, SAYS (SATURDAY) IT IS NOT CONVENIENT FOR INDIA
TO HOLD DISCUSSIONS WITH THE PAKISTANI MINISTER THAT SOON.
///INSERT JASSAL ACT///
THE DATE IS NOT CONVENIENT AND WE WILL REVERT SHORTLY TO
THE GOVERNMENT OF PAKISTAN WITH ALTERNATIVE DATES.
/// END JASSAL ACT///
PAKISTAN HAD OFFERED TO SEND MR. AZIZ FOR TALKS MORE THAN A WEEK
AGO, SOON AFTER INDIA LAUNCHED ITS MILITARY OPERATION IN KASHMIR.
MR. JASSAL DID NOT ELABORATE ON WHY THE VISIT IS BEING DELAYED --
BUT SAYS NEW DELHI IS GETTING CONFUSING SIGNALS FROM STATEMENTS
MADE BY PAKISTAN ON THE ONGOING CONFLICT.
///INSERT JASSAL ACT///
THEY (STATEMENTS BY PAKISTANI AUTHORITIES) DETRACT FROM
THE ESSENTIAL ISSUE WHICH IS THAT INTRUSION HAS TAKEN
PLACE, IT HAS TO BE VACATED AND THAT MILITARY ACTION IS
GOING TO CONTINUE ON THAT SCORE. SEVERAL STATEMENTS HAVE
COME FROM ACROSS THE BORDER. IT IS A PATTERN OF
INCONSISTENT STATEMENTS THAT HAVE COME FROM PAKISTAN
SIDE.
///END JASSAL ACT///
THE MILITARY OPERATION HAS ESCALATED TENSIONS BETWEEN THE TWO
NUCLEAR-ARMED NEIGHBORS. INDIA IS ACCUSING PAKISTAN OF TRYING TO
ALTER THE LINE OF CONTROL THAT DIVIDES KASHMIR BETWEEN THE TWO
COUNTRIES WITH THE HELP OF ARMED INFILTRATORS.
MEANWHILE DEFENSE OFFICIALS SAID THERE WERE NO AIR STRIKES
AGAINST GUERRILLA CAMPS ON SATURDAY -- BUT SAID THIS DID NOT MEAN
THAT THE AIR OPERATION IN KASHMIR HAS ENDED. THE AIR FORCE HAS
CONDUCTED DAILY SORTIES IN AN ATTEMPT TO EVICT INFILTRATORS
BEFORE GROUND FORCES MOVE IN TO RECAPTURE BORDER POSTS.
AUTHORITIES HAVE SEALED OFF THE SECTION OF KASHMIR BORDER WHERE
FIGHTING IS TAKING PLACE TO CIVILIANS, SAYING COMMANDERS
ANTICIPATE AN ESCALATION IN GROUND BATTLES. THE ORDER PREVENTS
JOURNALISTS FROM MOVING FREELY IN THE KARGIL, DRAS AND BATALIK
SECTOR.
DEFENSE OFFICIALS ARE ALSO DISPLAYING WEAPONS, PHOTOS AND
MILITARY DOCUMENTS OF WHAT THEY SAY ARE THREE PAKISTANI SOLDIERS
KILLED IN THE ONGOING FIGHTING IN KASHMIR. INDIA SAYS REGULAR
PAKISTANI TROOPS ARE AMONG THE INFILTRATORS. PAKISTAN STRONGLY
DENIES THAT ITS FORCES ARE INVOLVED IN THE FIGHTING. (SIGNED)
NEB/AP/LTD/JO
05-Jun-99 9:50 AM EDT (1350 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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