DATE=6/6/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-250287
TITLE=INDIA/FIGHTING (L-O)
BYLINE=ANJANA PASRICHA
DATELINE=NEW DELHI
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: INDIAN TROOPS ARE CARRYING OUT MAJOR GROUND ASSAULTS IN
INDIAN KASHMIR AGAINST, WHAT NEW DELHI CALLS -- PAKISTAN-BACKED
INFILTRATORS. ANJANA PASRICHA REPORTS FROM NEW DELHI, THE
MILITARY OPERATION IS IN ITS 12TH DAY. AIR STRIKES RESUMED
SUNDAY AFTER BEING HALTED FOR A DAY.
TEXT: DEFENSE OFFICIALS SAY INDIAN TROOPS ARE CLOSING IN ON
HEAVILY-ARMED GUERRILLAS WHO HAVE CAPTURED HIGH MOUNTAIN PEAKS IN
THE KARGIL REGION OF KASHMIR.
ARTILLERY BATTLES ARE REPORTED TO BE RAGING IN THE DRAS AND
BATALIK SECTORS. THE ARMY SAYS IT HAS RECAPTURED A STRATEGIC
MILITARY POST, AND IS PREPARING FOR AN ASSAULT ON ANOTHER
MOUNTAIN.
DEFENSE OFFICIALS SAY THE TEMPORARY HALT IN AIR STRIKES SATURDAY
ENABLED GROUND TROOPS TO ADVANCE ON GUERRILLA POSITIONS. BUT
OFFICIALS CONCEDE OPERATIONS ARE SLOW DUE TO THE DIFFICULT
TERRAIN ON WHICH THEY ARE FIGHTING.
ARMY SPOKESMAN, MOHAN BHANDARI, SAYS IT IS A QUESTION OF
PROGRESSING A FEW YARDS A DAY ON THE STEEP MOUNTAINS. HE IS
OFFERING NO TIME-FRAME FOR COMPLETING THE OPERATION.
/// INSERT BHANDARI ACT ///
YOU HAVE SEEN THE LOFTY MOUNTAINS, RANGING FROM
15-THOUSAND TO 17-THOUSAND FEET. IF YOU SEE WHAT THE
TERRAIN IS LIKE, A FEW YARDS MATTER EVERYDAY.
/// END BHANDARI ACT ///
// OPT // OBSERVERS SAY, THE ARMY IS DIGGING IN, SETTING UP
UNDERGROUND BUNKERS AND PREPARING FOR A LONG HAUL. BUT THE ARMY
IS EAGER TO REGAIN THE TERRITORY BEFORE THE ONSET OF WINTER IN
SEPTEMBER, WHEN HEAVY SNOWFALL WILL MAKE IT TOUGH TO PRESS AHEAD.
// END OPT //
THE CASUALTIES ON THE INDIAN SIDE ARE MOUNTING -- OFFICIALS SAY
59 HAVE DIED AND 217 ARE WOUNDED.
MEANWHILE, DEFENSE OFFICIALS HAVE SCALED DOWN THE ESTIMATE OF THE
NUMBER OF INFILTRATORS KILLED. EARLIER REPORTS SAID 400 WERE
KILLED, BUT OFFICIALS NOW SAY A FINAL TALLY IS BEING PREPARED.
AN ARMY COMMANDER IN SRINAGAR SAYS THE NUMBER IS ABOUT 200.
DIPLOMATIC EFFORTS TO END THE TENSION BETWEEN INDIA AND PAKISTAN
IN THE HIMALAYAN REGION HAVE MADE LITTLE PROGRESS SO FAR.
(SUNDAY) ISLAMABAD URGED NEW DELHI TO HOLD AN EARLY DIALOGUE ON
THE KASHMIR CRISIS, AFTER INDIA DELAYED A PROPOSED VISIT BY THE
PAKISTANI FOREIGN MINISTER.
INDIAN FOREIGN MINISTER JASWANT SINGH TOLD STATE-RUN TELEVISION
-- WE ARE NOT SCARED OF TALKS, BUT WE WANT TO MAKE IT CLEAR WE
WILL NOT TALK OUT OF FEAR.
FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESMAN IN NEW DELHI, RAMINDER JASSAL,
REITERATED INDIAN ACCUSATIONS THE INFILTRATION IS BACKED BY
PAKISTAN -- A CHARGE PAKISTAN STRONGLY DENIES.
/// INSERT JASSAL ACT ///
PAKISTAN'S CULPABILITY AND INVOLVEMENT WAS CLEAR FROM
THE BEGINNING. PAKISTAN CANNOT HAVE IT BOTH WAYS. ON
ONE HAND TO DENY ANY RESPONSIBILITY OR INVOLVEMENT IN
THE ARMED INTRUSION THAT HAS TAKEN PLACE, AND ON THE
OTHER SIDE TO AFFIRM THEIR DESIRE TO HAVE PEACE TALKS.
/// END JASSAL ACT ///
THE INDIAN ARMY HAS RETURNED THE BODIES OF THREE PAKISTANI
SOLDIERS KILLED IN THE FIGHTING. ISLAMABAD SAYS THE SOLDIERS
WERE AMBUSHED BY INDIAN TROOPS IN PAKISTANI KASHMIR, BUT NEW
DELHI INSISTS THEY WERE KILLED IN INDIAN KASHMIR. (SIGNED)
NEB/AP/RAE
06-Jun-99 9:51 AM EDT (1351 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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