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DATE=6/23/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-250991
TITLE=INDIA / PAK / KASHMIR  (L)
BYLINE=JIM TEEPLE
DATELINE=NEW DELHI
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
INTRO:  INDIA'S ARMY CHIEF OF STAFF SAYS CROSSING THE "LINE OF 
CONTROL" WHICH DIVIDES KASHMIR BETWEEN INDIA AND PAKISTAN COULD 
BECOME A MILITARY OPTION.  VOA'S JIM TEEPLE REPORTS THE GENERAL 
SAYS ANY DECISION TO CROSS INTO PAKISTANI TERRITORY WOULD HAVE TO
BE TAKEN BY INDIA'S CABINET.  
TEXT:  INDIA'S ARMY CHIEF OF STAFF, V-P MALIK, SAYS  NO  DECISION
HAS BEEN TAKEN TO CROSS THE "LINE OF CONTROL,"  THE CEASEFIRE 
LINE WHICH DIVIDES KASHMIR, BUT IT COULD BE A MILITARY OPTION IF 
INDIA'S CABINET GIVES ITS APPROVAL.  
                         // MALIK ACT //
         THE CABINET MEETS VERY OFTEN AND WE ARE IN ATTENDANCE.  
         WE REVIEW THE SITUATION ALL THE TIME, AND I BELIEVE IF 
         IT BECOMES NECESSARY TO CROSS THE LINE OF CONTROL, AS 
         FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESMAN RAMINDER JASSAL SAID 
         YESTERDAY, IN THE SUPREME NATIONAL INTEREST, THE MATTER 
         WOULD BE TAKEN UP WITH THE CABINET. 
                      //  END ACTUALITY //
GENERAL MALIK'S STATEMENT IS THE FIRST BY A SENIOR INDIAN 
COMMANDER SAYING THE LINE OF CONTROL COULD BE CROSSED BY INDIAN 
TROOPS IF IT BECOMES NECESSARY TO DO SO.   
// OPT // THE GENERAL SAYS HIS TROOPS HAVE FOILED WHAT HE 
DESCRIBES AS PAKISTAN'S OVERALL MILITARY DESIGN TO SEVER THE KEY 
EAST-WEST HIGHWAY WHICH RUNS THROUGH INDIAN KASHMIR.  INDIAN 
COMMANDERS SAY TROOPS ARE MAKING FINAL PREPARATIONS FOR AN 
ASSAULT ON "TIGER HILLS," THE LAST STRATEGIC PEAK OVERLOOKING THE
HIGHWAY  NOT  IN THEIR CONTROL. 
COMMANDERS SAY THEIR TROOPS ARE ACCLIMATIZED TO THE HARSH 
CONDITIONS IN THE BATTLE ZONE AND ARE READY TO FIGHT WHAT THEY 
SAY ARE ABOUT 600 PAKISTANI TROOPS DUG IN ON HIGH GROUND WHO ARE 
BEING SUPPORTED BY SEVERAL THOUSAND "FIGHTING PORTERS" MADE UP OF
AFGHAN MERCENARIES AND KASHMIRI ISLAMIC MILITANTS.  PAKISTAN 
DENIES THAT ITS FORCES ARE INVOLVED OR THAT IT GIVES MILITARY 
SUPPORT TO INSURGENTS IN KASHMIR.  //  END OPT // 
MEANWHILE, INDIA'S HOME MINISTER, L-K ADVANI, SAYS INDIA SHOULD 
BE PREPARED FOR A WAR WITH PAKISTAN.  MR. ADVANI, A CLOSE 
CONFIDENT OF PRIME MINISTER ATAL BEHARI VAJPAYEE, SAYS A WAR WITH
PAKISTAN CANNOT BE RULED OUT BECAUSE, IN HIS WORDS, PAKISTAN IS A
ROGUE STATE WITH SEVERAL CENTERS OF POWER WHICH MAKES IT BEHAVE 
IRRESPONSIBLY.  (SIGNED) 
NEB/JLT/KL 
23-Jun-99 9:27 AM EDT (1327 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.