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DATE=6/19/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-250863
TITLE=INDIA / KASHMIR (L-ONLY) (CQ)
BYLINE=ANJANA PASRICHA
DATELINE=NEW DELHI
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
INTRO:  INDIA'S PRIME MINISTER (ATAL BEHARI VAJPAYEE) SAYS THE 
ONGOING BORDER CONFLICT IN KASHMIR WILL BE RESOLVED BILATERALLY 
BETWEEN INDIA AND PAKISTAN.  THE COMMENT COMES AS NEW DELHI 
PRESSES AHEAD WITH ITS MILITARY CAMPAIGN, AIMING TO PUSH BACK 
WHAT IT CALLS PAKISTANI-BACKED INFILTRATORS FROM INDIAN KASHMIR. 
ANJANA PASRICHA HAS MORE ON THIS STORY FROM NEW DELHI.
TEXT:  PRIME MINISTER ATAL BEHARI VAJPAYEE SAID SATURDAY HE 
WELCOMES THE INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT INDIA HAS RECEIVED FOR ITS 
MILITARY OFFENSIVE IN KASHMIR.  BUT HE STRESSED THAT THE CONFLICT
WITH PAKISTAN IS A BILATERAL ISSUE, AND THERE IS  NO  NEED FOR 
OUTSIDE MEDIATION. 
MR. VAJPAYEE'S COMMENT CAME A DAY AFTER PAKISTANI PRIME MINISTER 
NAWAZ SHARIF ASKED THE GROUP OF EIGHT INDUSTRIAL NATIONS TO HELP 
RESOLVE THE CURRENT CONFLICT BETWEEN INDIA AND PAKISTAN.  THE 
GROUP OF EIGHT NATIONS ARE CURRENTLY MEETING IN GERMANY.
BUT WHILE INDIA INSISTS THE CURRENT CRISIS WILL BE RESOLVED 
BILATERALLY, IT IS HOPING TO RECEIVE DIPLOMATIC SUPPORT FROM THE 
BIG INDUSTRIAL NATIONS FOR ITS DEMAND THAT PAKISTAN MUST REMOVE 
WHAT NEW DELHI CALLS "ARMED INFILTRATORS" FROM INDIAN KASHMIR.
INDIA SAYS ITS MILITARY CAMPAIGN WILL CONTINUE UNTIL PAKISTAN 
EITHER WITHDRAWS THE INFILTRATORS, OR THEY ARE PUSHED BACK.  
PAKISTAN DENIES SUPPORTING THE GUERRILLAS.
A SENIOR FOREIGN MINISTRY OFFICIAL, VIVEK KATJU, TOLD REPORTERS 
IN NEW DELHI, SO FAR INDIA HAS RECEIVED SUPPORT FROM MANY 
COUNTRIES.
                        /// KATJU ACT ///
         IT WAS ALSO CLEAR THAT THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY, 
         INCLUDING MAJOR COUNTRIES, HAVE ASKED PAKISTAN THAT THIS
         ARMED INTRUSION AND OPERATION SHOULD END.  THE INTRUSION
         AND AGGRESSION SHOULD BE VACATED.
                         /// END ACT ///
MEANWHILE, MILITARY OFFICIALS SAY INDIAN TROOPS ARE LOCKED IN 
INTENSE CONFLICT WITH THE GUERRILLAS IN THE KARGIL AND DRAS 
REGIONS.  ACCORDING TO THESE OFFICIALS, THE ARMY IS USING 
ARTILLERY AND MORTAR FIRE TO TARGET BASES IN PAKISTANI KASHMIR 
THAT ARE BELIEVED TO SUPPLY THE INFILTRATORS. 
INDIA SUSPENDED AIR STRIKES SATURDAY AS THE ARMY PRESSED AHEAD ON
THE HIGH MOUNTAIN PEAKS WHERE THE FIGHTING IS TAKING PLACE.  
THERE HAVE BEEN ALMOST DAILY AIR STRIKES AGAINST GUERRILLA CAMPS 
SINCE THE MILITARY OPERATION BEGAN MAY 26TH.   (SIGNED)
NEB/AP/WTW
19-Jun-99 11:57 AM EDT (1557 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.