DATE=6/11/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-250524
TITLE=INDO / KASHMIR / FIGHTING / L
BYLINE=JIM TEEPLE
DATELINE=NEW DELHI
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: INDIA SAYS IT WILL GO AHEAD WITH TALKS WITH PAKISTAN ON
THE KASHMIR CONFLICT ON SATURDAY DESPITE WHAT IT DESCRIBES AS THE
"BARBARIC TREATMENT OF ITS PRISONERS OF WAR BY PAKISTAN." INDIA
SAYS AUTOPSIES ON SIX OF ITS SOLDIERS, RETURNED BY PAKISTAN,
INDICATE THEY WERE TORTURED BEFORE BEING KILLED. PAKISTAN
REJECTS THE ALLEGATIONS AND SAYS ITS FOREIGN MINISTER WILL BE IN
NEW DELHI ON SATURDAY TO DISCUSS ALL ASPECTS OF THE CONFLICT IN
KASHMIR. VOA'S JIM TEEPLE HAS DETAILS FROM OUR NEW DELHI BUREAU.
TEXT: INDIA'S FOREIGN MINISTER, JASWANT SINGH, SAYS AUTOPSIES
MONITORED BY INDEPENDENT OBSERVERS SHOW SIX INDIAN SOLDIERS WERE
KILLED ABOUT A WEEK BEFORE THEY WERE TURNED OVER TO INDIAN
AUTHORITIES ON WEDNESDAY -- AND TWO WEEKS AFTER THEY WERE
CAPTURED INSIDE INDIAN KASHMIR ON MAY 14TH.
MR. SINGH SAYS THE SIX WERE SEVERELY TORTURED BEFORE BEING
KILLED. HE SAYS INDIA IS DEMANDING THAT THOSE RESPONSIBLE BE
BROUGHT TO JUSTICE. AT THE SAME TIME INDIA'S FOREIGN MINISTER
SAYS HE WILL MEET WITH HIS PAKISTANI COUNTERPART, SARTAJ AZIZ,
SATURDAY IN NEW DELHI TO DISCUSS THE KASHMIR CRISIS.
// INSERT SINGH ACTUALITY //
THE REASON WHY WE ARE COMMITTED TO THE DIALOGUE IS
BECAUSE WE CONTINUE TO BELIEVE THAT IN THE ULTIMATE IT
IS PEACE THAT MUST COME AND PREVAIL BETWEEN THESE TWO
LANDS. EVERY INTERRUPTION, EVERY OBSTACLE AND EVERY
ABERRATION IN THE PATH OF PEACE MUST BE DEFEATED.
// END ACTUALITY //
MR. SINGH SAYS TELEPHONE CALLS INDIA RECORDED BETWEEN SENIOR
PAKISTANI COMMANDERS SHOW PAKISTAN IS DEEPLY INVOLVED IN THE
INCURSION INTO INDIAN KASHMIR. ONE TRANSCRIPT INDICATES
PAKISTANI COMMANDERS CLOSELY CONTROL THE MOVEMENTS OF ISLAMIC
MILITANTS FIGHTING IN KASHMIR. PAKISTAN DENIES THAT IT OFFERS
ANYTHING MORE THAN MORAL SUPPORT TO THE MILITANTS. MR. SINGH
SAYS THE TRANSCRIPTS HAVE BEEN AUTHENTICATED BY VOICE ANALYSIS
AND HE WILL BRING THE ISSUE UP WITH FOREIGN MINISTER AZIZ.
MR. SINGH SAYS SATURDAY'S TALKS WILL BE CONFINED TO GETTING WHAT
HE DESCRIBES AS "INFILTRATORS" OUT OF INDIAN KASHMIR. INDIA'S
FOREIGN MINISTER SAYS IT IS UP TO PAKISTAN TO ACT, TO DISENGAGE
ITSELF FROM INDIAN KASHMIR.
// INSERT 2ND SINGH ACTUALITY //
IT IS REALLY UP TO PAKISTAN TO ADDRESS ITSELF TO THIS
ISSUE. THE ONLY MEETING POINT IS FOR PAKISTAN TO
RECOGNIZE THE FOLLY OF THIS MISADVENTURE AND AT THE
EARLIEST TO RESTORE STATUS QUO ANTE. I HAVE SAID
EARLIER AND I'LL REPEAT IT: THEIR MILITARY AIMS HAVE
BEEN DEFEATED, THEIR INTERNATIONAL AIMS HAVE RUN INTO A
CUL DE SAC. THERE IS NO RETURN FOR PAKISTAN OTHER THAN
TO GO BACK FROM WHERE THEY CAME.
// END ACTUALITY //
MEANWHILE, IN ADVANCE OF SATURDAY'S TALKS, FIGHTING INTENSIFED IN
KASHMIR WITH INDIAN ARMY TROOPS CONTINUING THEIR ATTACKS AGAINST
THE GUERRILLAS WHO ARE DUG IN ON STRATEGIC PEAKS.
INDIAN COMMANDERS SAY THEIR TROOPS ARE TRYING TO RETAKE BUNKERS
BUILT BY INDIA AND STOCKED WITH FOOD AND FUEL, BUT WHICH ARE
ABANDONED DURING THE WINTER WHEN TEMPERATURES DROP TO MINUS 60
DEGREES CELSIUS.
INDIA SAYS IT LOST AT LEAST 15 TROOPS IN ONE ENGAGEMENT BRINGING
TO MORE THAN 80 THE UNOFFICIAL NUMBER OF INDIAN CASULTIES. MORE
THAN 200 OF THE GUERRILLAS ARE THOUGHT TO HAVE BEEN KILLED.
(SIGNED)
NEB/JLT/LTD/KL
11-Jun-99 10:44 AM EDT (1444 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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