DATE=6/7/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-250331
TITLE=INDIA / KASHMIR / PAK / L
BYLINE=JIM TEEPLE
DATELINE=NEW DELHI
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: INDIA'S PRIME MINISTER SAYS PAKISTAN IS DIRECTLY
RESPONSIBLE FOR WHAT HE DESCRIBES AS THE INCURSION OF HUNDREDS OF
FIGHTERS INTO INDIAN TERRITORY. CORRESPONDENT JIM TEEPLE REPORTS
THE PRIME MINISTER'S COMMENTS CAME LATE MONDAY AS INDIAN FIGHTERS
AND ARMY TROOPS ATTACKED POSITIONS OCCUPIED BY THE INFILTRATORS
IN KASHMIR.
TEXT: IN HIS FIRST ADDRESS TO THE NATION SINCE THE KASHMIR
CRISIS BEGAN LAST MONTH, PRIME MINISTER ATAL BEHARI VAJPAYEE
CALLED FOR PAKISTAN TO REMOVE THE INFILTRATORS FROM INDIAN
TERRITORY, SAYING THE CURRENT CONFLICT IS DANGEROUS FOR BOTH
COUNTRIES. PAKISTAN, SAYS MR. VAJPAYEE SHOULD UNDERSTAND INDIA'S
RESOLVE.
// VAJAPYEE ACT//
IT IS A SERIOUS SITUATION. IT IS A SITUATION THAT IS
FRAUGHT WITH DANGER. IT IS A SITUATION THAT HAS ARISEN
FROM ONE SIMPLE FACT -- THE DECISION OF PAKISTAN TO
CROSS THE LINE OF CONTROL, TO SEND ITS MEN AND MATERIAL
TO OCCUPY OUR TERRITORY. NO GOVERNMENT CAN TOLERATE
SUCH AN INCURSION AND OUR GOVERNMENT CERTAINLY WILL NOT.
// END ACT //
PAKISTAN STRONGLY DENIES IT SUPPORTS THE INFILTRATORS OR THAT ITS
TROOPS ARE FIGHTING ALONGSIDE THEM ON THE INDIAN SIDE OF THE
"LINE OF CONTROL", THE CEASEFIRE LINE THAT DIVIDES KASHMIR.
MR. VAJPAYEE ACCUSED PAKISTAN OF VIOLATING THE 1972 SHIMLA
AGREEMENT, AN ACCORD THAT SET THE CURRENT BOUNDARIES IN KASHMIR
ALONG THE "LINE OF CONTROL". MR. VAJPAYEE ACCUSED PAKISTAN OF
USING FORCE TO UNILATERALLY ALTER THE BOUNDARY. INDIA CONTROLS
TWO-THIRDS OF KASHMIR, AND PAKISTAN ONE-THIRD. TWO OF THE THREE
WARS INDIA AND PAKISTAN HAVE FOUGHT HAVE BEEN OVER THE DISPUTED
TERRITORY.
MR. VAJPAYEE SAYS INDIA'S DOOR IS OPEN TO TALKS TO SOLVE THE
CRISIS AND ANY DATE IS CONVENIENT. BUT HE SAYS AN TALKS TO SOLVE
THE CRISIS WILL BE LIMITED TO ONE SUBJECT.
// VAJPAYEE ACT //
INDIA IS ALWAYS OPEN TO TALKS, BUT THE TALKS MUST HAVE A
DEFINITE SPECIFIC PURPOSE AND IN THE PRESENT INSTANCE
THE SUBJECT IS ONE AND ONE ALONE -- THE INTRUSION AND
HOW PAKISTAN PROPOSES TO UNDO IT.
// END ACTU //
MR. VAJPAYEE SAYS IF PAKISTAN ATTEMPTS TO CHANGE THE BOUNDARIES
OF THE LINE OF CONTROL THROUGH TALKS -- THOSE TALKS WILL END
BEFORE THEY BEGIN.
// REST OPT //
LAST YEAR BOTH INDIA AND PAKISTAN CONDUCTED NUCLEAR TESTS AND
EARLIER THIS YEAR BOTH COUNTRIES TESTED MID-RANGE BALLISTIC
MISSILES -- SPARKING FEARS OF AN ARMS RACE IN SOUTH ASIA. MR.
VAJPAYEE SAYS BECAUSE OF THEIR NUCLEAR CAPABILITIES BOTH
COUNTRIES HAVE AN ADDED RESPONSIBILITY TO SOLVE THE CRISIS.
MR. VAJPAYEE ALSO SAYS BOTH COUNTRIES ARE TAKING MAJOR STEPS TO
EASE TENSIONS AND END, WHAT DESCRIBES AS, A 50-YEAR HISTORY OF
BITTERNESS. MR. VAJPAYEE SAYS HIS GOVERNMENT IS COMMITTED TO THE
PEACE PROCESS, AND HE IS CONFIDENT THE PEOPLE OF PAKISTAN DESIRE
PEACE AND HARMONY WITH THEIR NEIGHBOR, INDIA. (SIGNED)
NEB/JLT/RAE
07-Jun-99 1:09 PM EDT (1709 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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