DATE=6/22/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-250952
TITLE=INDIA / KASHMIR (L ONLY)
BYLINE=ANJANA PASRICHA
DATELINE=NEW DELHI
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: INDIAN TROOPS ARE LAUNCHING A MASSIVE OFFENSIVE AGAINST
ARMED INTRUDERS ON A STRATEGIC MOUNTAIN RIDGE IN INDIAN KASHMIR.
ANJANA PASRICHA REPORTS FROM NEW DELHI, IT IS FOUR WEEKS SINCE
NEW DELHI BEGAN ITS MILITARY OFFENSIVE IN KASHMIR. SINCE THEN,
THE ARMY HAS REPORTED SLOW BUT STEADY PROGRESS IN ITS OPERATION
TO REMOVE THE GUERRILLAS FROM THE MOUNTAIN PEAKS.
TEXT: MORE THAN 2000 INDIAN TROOPS HAVE ENCIRCLED TIGER HILLS --
A HIGH MOUNTAIN RIDGE IN KASHMIR'S DRAS REGION. DEFENSE
OFFICIALS SAY THE ARMY HAS CUT OFF SUPPLY LINES TO THE GUERRILLAS
AND IS HOPING, BY THIS STRATEGY, TO FORCE THEM OUT.
TIGER HILLS IS ONE OF THREE MOUNTAIN PEAKS IN THE DRAS REGION
THAT THE GUERRILLAS HAVE USED TO OVERLOOK FRONTLINE INDIAN ARMY
POSITIONS. THE ARMY SAYS IT HAS ALREADY CLEARED THE OTHER TWO
PEAKS.
ARMY OFFICIALS SAY ONCE THE GUERRILLAS ARE EVICTED FROM THE
HIGHEST POINTS, THEY WILL LOSE THE ADVANTAGE THEY NOW HAVE
OVERLOOKING THE STRATEGIC HIGHWAY LINKING THE KASHMIRI SUMMER
CAPITAL, SRINAGAR, TO THE TOWN OF LEH.
IN ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN'S MILITARY HAS ACCUSED INDIA OF RELENTLESS
ASSAULTS ON ITS ARMY POSTS -- AND SAYS HOPES FOR PEACE IN THE
KASHMIR REGION ARE FADING.
RESPONDING TO ISLAMABAD'S ACCUSATION, INDIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY
SPOKESMAN R.S. JASSAL SAYS PEACE CAN ONLY RETURN IF PAKISTAN IS
WILLING TO WITHDRAW THE INTRUDERS FROM INDIAN KASHMIR. NEW DELHI
ACCUSES ISLAMABAD OF SENDING SOLDIERS AND SOME AFGHAN MERCENARIES
TO CAPTURE ITS TERRITORY. MR. JASSAL SAYS PEACE CAN COME TO THE
REGION ONLY AFTER ALL THE INFILTRATORS LEAVE INDIAN KASHMIR.
/// INSERT JASSAL ACT ///
THE HOPES FOR PEACE WOULD BE VERY BRIGHT IF PAKISTAN
WERE TO HEED OUR DEMANDS AND THE CALL OF THE
INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY TO GO BACK ACROSS THE LINE OF
CONTROL AND VACATE THIS AGGRESSION.
/// END JASSAL ACT ///
MEANWHILE, INDIA'S CHIEF ELECTION COMMISSIONER, M.S. GILL, SAYS
HE DOES NOT BELIEVE GENERAL ELECTIONS IN THE COUNTRY WILL BE
DELAYED DUE TO THE INDIAN ARMY'S INVOLVEMENT IN THE KASHMIR
CONFLICT. INDIA IS SCHEDULED TO COMPLETE ELECTIONS BY THE FIRST
WEEK OF OCTOBER. ACCORDING TO MR. GILL, HE IS CLOSELY WATCHING
THE KASHMIR SITUATION AND IS CONFIDENT IT WILL BE UNDER CONTROL
BY THE TIME THE COUNTRY'S HEADS FOR THE POLLS.
AN EXACT ELECTIONS SCHEDULE IS STILL TO BE ANNOUNCED -- BUT IN
RECENT WEEKS QUESTIONS HAVE BEEN RAISED ABOUT INDIA'S ABILITY TO
CONDUCT A GENERAL ELECTION ON SCHEDULE BECAUSE OF THE ARMY'S
INVOLVEMENT IN THE KASHMIR CONFLICT. PARAMILITARY FORCES ARE
EXTENSIVELY USED FOR INTERNAL SECURITY DURING ELECTIONS. BUT NOW
MANY OF THOSE FORCES ARE ON THE INDIA-PAKISTAN BORDER. (SIGNED)
NEB/AP/KL
22-Jun-99 10:02 AM EDT (1402 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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