DATE=6/13/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-250581
TITLE=INDIA / PAK / KASHMIR (L)
BYLINE=JIM TEEPLE
DATELINE=NEW DELHI
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: THE INDIAN ARMY SAYS IT HAS CAPTURED A STRATEGIC PEAK IN
KASHMIR AFTER A FIERCE BATTLE WITH WHAT INDIA CALLS
"INFILTRATORS" FROM PAKISTAN. VOA'S JIM TEEPLE REPORTS INDIA'S
PRIME MINISTER VISITED BATTLE AREAS IN KASHMIR SUNDAY JUST ONE
DAY AFTER FOREIGN MINISTERS FROM INDIA AND PAKISTAN FAILED TO
MAKE ANY PROGRESS ON HOW TO END THE KASHMIR CRISIS.
TEXT: THE INDIAN ARMY SAYS ITS TROOPS REACHED THE SUMMIT OF
TOLOLING PEAK SUNDAY AFTER POUNDING THE AREA WITH 12- THOUSAND
ARTILLERY SHELLS FOR TEN HOURS.
THE FOUR-THOUSAND-FIVE HUNDRED METER PEAK OVERLOOKS THE MAIN
EAST-WEST HIGHWAY IN KASHMIR AND COMMANDERS SAY ITS CAPTURE WAS
ESSENTIAL TO THEIR EFFORT.
THE CAPTURE OF THE STRATEGIC PEAK CAME AS INDIA'S PRIME MINISTER
ATAL BEHARI VAJPAYEE VISITED INDIAN TROOPS TELLING THEM INDIA
WANTS PEACE BUT IS PREPARED FOR WAR. MR. VAJPAYEE ACCUSED
PAKISTAN OF VIOLATING THE LINE OF CONTROL -- THE CEASEFIRE LINE
WHICH DIVIDES KASHMIR -- AND HE SAYS INDIA WILL NOT REST UNTIL
ALL THE INTRUDERS ARE PUSHED OUT.
SEVERAL ARTILLERY SHELLS FIRED FROM PAKISTAN LANDED ABOUT TWO
KILOMETERS FROM WHERE THE PRIME MINISTER SPOKE ON SUNDAY. DURING
HIS VISIT TO THE KASHMIR FRONT, MR. VAJPAYEE ALSO MET WITH SOME
OF THE ESTIMATED 50-THOUSAND RESIDENTS WHO HAVE HAD TO FLEE THEIR
HOMES BECAUSE OF FIGHTING.
MR. VAJPAYEE'S TRIP TO KASHMIR CAME JUST ONE DAY AFTER THE
FOREIGN MINISTER OF INDIA AND PAKISTAN ENDED TALKS IN NEW DELHI
WITHOUT ANY AGREMENT ON HOW TO END THE CRISIS. FOLLOWING THE
TALKS INDIA'S FOREIGN MINISTER JASWANT SINGH SAID HE SAW NO
FURTHER POINT IN TALKING TO PAKISTAN UNLESS IT PULLS, WHAT INDIA
SAYS ARE PAKISTANI-BACKED INFILTRATORS, OUT OF INDIAN TERRITORY.
// SINGH ACT //
INDIA IS COMMITTED TO THE PROCESS OF DIALOGUE. THE PURPOSE OF
DIALOGUE IS VACATION OF AGRESSION. WE DO NOT HAVE THE LUXURY TO
ENGAGE IN TALKS ABOUT TALKS.
// END ACTUALITY //
FOR HIS PART MR. SARTAJ AZIZ DENIES BACKING THE GUERRILLAS SAYING
THEY ARE ACTUALLY FREEDOM FIGHTERS FROM INSIDE KASHMIR. HE ALSO
DENIES THAT PAKISTANI TROOPS ARE FIGHTING ALONGSIDE THE
GUERRILLAS.
LATE SATURDAY INDIAN TROOPS OPENED FIRE ON WHAT THEY SAID IS A
PAKISTANI SURVEILLANCE PLANE WHICH THEY SAY STRAYED ACROSS THE
LINE OF CONTROL INTO INDIAN TERRITORY, FURTHER RAISING TENSIONS
IN THE REGION.
AS HE LEFT NEW DELHI ON SATURDAY PAKISTAN'S FOREIGN MINISTER,
SARTAJ AZIZ, SAID HE BELIEVED THERE WOULD BE NO FURTHER
ESCALATION OF THE CONFLICT. ON SUNDAY MR. AZIZ SOUNDED A
DIFFERENT NOTE SAYING PAKISTAN WANTS PEACE BUT DOES HAVE THE
CAPABILITY TO DEFEND ITS NATIONAL INTERESTS IF WAR IS IMPOSED ON
ITS PEOPLE. (SIGNED)
NEB/JLT/PLM
13-Jun-99 8:07 AM EDT (1207 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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