DATE=6/20/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-250882
TITLE=INDIA / KASHMIR (L ONLY)
BYLINE=ANJANA PASRICHA
DATELINE=NEW DELHI
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: INDIA SAYS IT EXPECTS PAKISTAN TO PULL BACK ARMED
INTRUDERS FROM INDIAN KASHMIR FOLLOWING A CALL BY THE WORLD'S
LEADING INDUSTRIALIZED NATIONS FOR THE TWO COUNTRIES TO END THEIR
CONFRONTATION IN KASHMIR. BUT INDIA SAYS ITS MILITARY CAMPAIGN
TO ROOT OUT THE INFILTRATORS WILL CONTINUE. ANJANA PASRICHA
REPORTS, THE INDIAN ARMY ALSO SAYS IT HAS RECAPTURED A STRATEGIC
PEAK FROM GUERRILLAS IN INDIAN KASHMIR.
TEXT: INDIA HAS WELCOMED A STATEMENT BY THE GROUP OF EIGHT
NATIONS APPEALING TO INDIA AND PAKISTAN TO STOP MILITARY ACTION
IN THE DISPUTED KASHMIR REGION.
FOREIGN MINISTRY OFFICIALS SAY THE STATEMENT REPRESENTS KEY
DIPLOMATIC SUPPORT FROM THE WORLD'S MAJOR POWERS FOR INDIA'S
POSITION THAT THE KASHMIR CONFLICT HAS ARISEN DUE TO AN
INFILTRATION BY ARMED INTRUDERS INTO INDIAN TERRITORY.
INDIA ACCUSES PAKISTAN OF SENDING IN ARMED GUERRILLAS WITH THE
AIM OF ALTERING THE LINE OF CONTROL THAT DIVIDES KASHMIR BETWEEN
THE TWO NATIONS. INDIA SAYS THE ONLY AIM OF ITS MILITARY ACTION
IS TO RESTORE THE STATUS QUO OF THIS BORDER.
FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESMAN R-S JASSAL SAYS THE GROUP OF EIGHT
COUNTRIES, IN THEIR STATEMENT ON THE KASHMIR CRISIS, HAVE BEEN
RESPONSIVE TO INDIA'S CONCERNS.
/// INSERT JASSAL ACT ///
I THINK THIS (THE G 8 STATEMENT) IS BASICALLY AN
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF THE FACT THAT INDIA'S POSITION ON
THIS MATTER HAS BEEN THE RIGHT ONE AND THE FACT THAT THE
SOURCE OF THE CONFLICT IS THE ARMED INTRUSION WHICH HAS
BEEN LAUNCHED BY PAKISTAN FROM THEIR SIDE OF THE LINE OF
CONTROL. WE EXPECT THAT PAKISTAN WILL HEED THIS CALL AND
ACT TO IMMEDIATELY PUT AN END TO ITS IRRESPONSIBLE
CONDUCT AND FULLY RESTORE THE STATUS QUO ANTE ON THE
LINE OF CONTROL.
/// END JASSAL ACT ///
MEANWHILE, DEFENSE OFFICIALS IN NEW DELHI SAY THEY HAVE
RECAPTURED A VITAL PEAK ON THE TOLOLING RIDGE IN THE KASHMIR'S
DRAS REGION. THE OFFICIALS SAY GUERRILLAS ENTRENCHED ON THE PEAK
WERE A THREAT TO A KEY HIGHWAY THAT LINKS SRINAGAR TO LEH. THE
INDIAN ARMY CLEARED THE PEAK AFTER INTENSIVE AIR STRIKES IN THE
AREA.
ARMY SPOKESMAN COLONEL BIKRAM SINGH SAYS THE MILITARY CAMPAIGN TO
REPULSE THE GUERRILLAS IS SLOW DUE TO THE MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN
WHERE THE FIGHTING IS TAKING PLACE.
/// INSERT SINGH ACT ///
IT HAS TAKEN US NEARLY THREE WEEKS TO CLEAR THE RIDGE
LINE. SO YOU WOULD APPRECIATE IT'S AN ARDUOUS, LONG
DRAWN AFFAIR, AND IT DOES TAKE TIME.
/// END SINGH ACT ///
THE FIGHTING HAS HEIGHTENED TENSIONS BETWEEN INDIA AND PAKISTAN,
RAISING FEARS THAT THE FIGHTING MAY ESCALATE INTO A WIDER
CONFLICT. (SIGNED)
NEB/AP/KL
20-Jun-99 11:28 AM EDT (1528 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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