DATE=7/1/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-251303
TITLE=INDIA / PAK / KASHMIR (L)
BYLINE=JIM TEEPLE
DATELINE=NEW DELHI
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: INDIAN ARMY TROOPS AND FIGHTER JETS LAUNCHED NEW ASSAULTS
THURSDAY AGAINST POSITIONS OCCUPIED BY, WHAT INDIA CALLS,
INFILTRATORS FROM PAKISTAN. THURSDAY'S ASSAULTS TOOK PLACE AS
DIPLOMATIC ACTIVITY TO END THE CONFLICT IS INTENSIFYING. VOA'S
JIM TEEPLE REPORTS FROM NEW DELHI, A SENIOR INDIAN OFFICIAL SAYS
INDIAN FORCES HAVE LARGELY ACCOMPLISHED THEIR GOAL OF PUSHING THE
INTRUDERS OUT OF INDIAN TERRITORY AND HE SAYS FEARS OF A WIDER
WAR BETWEEN INDIA AND PAKISTAN ARE GROUNDLESS.
TEXT: INDIAN COMMANDERS SAY A FOURTH NIGHT OF AIRSTRIKES
AGAINST POSITIONS ON HIGH MOUNTAIN RIDGES IS DESIGNED TO PREVENT
THE GUERRILLAS FROM RESTING OR REGROUPING AT NEW STRATEGIC
POINTS. THE INDIAN AIR FORCE BEGAN ROUND-THE-CLOCK AIRSTRIKES
THIS WEEK WITH THE AIM OF GIVING GROUND TROOPS COVER TO ADVANCE
AT NIGHT.
// OPT // SO FAR COMMANDERS SAY THE STRATEGY IS WORKING AND THEY
ARE SLOWLY MAKING THEIR WAY UP STEEP RIDGES TO CAPTURE "TIGER
HILL" THE LAST MAJOR STRATEGIC PEAK WHICH OVERLOOKS THE MAIN
EAST-WEST HIGHWAY IN KASHMIR. // END OPT //
INDIA'S HOME MINISTER (INTERIOR MINISTER) L-K ADVANI SAYS INDIAN
FORCES HAVE SUCCESSFULLY PUSHED THE INTRUDERS, IN HIS WORDS
"BACK TO THE WALL" AND THAT PAKISTAN'S GAME PLAN IN KASHMIR, AS
HE PUTS IT, HAS BEEN COMPLETELY DEFEATED. SPEAKING IN SRINIGAR,
THE SUMMER CAPITAL OF INDIA'S JAMMU AND KASHMIR STATE ON
THURSDAY, MR. ADVANI ALSO DEFENDED THE METHODICAL PACE AT WHICH
INDIAN TROOPS ARE ADVANCING -- SAYING A MORE RAPID ADVANCE WOULD
MEAN HIGHER CASULTIES FOR INDIAN TROOPS.
// ADVANI ACT //
I CAN TELL YOU THE KARGIL AGGRESSION CAN BE COMPLETELY FOILED
WITHIN A VERY SHORT TIME BUT THE COST WE WOULD HAVE TO BEAR
WOULD BE ENORMOUS. AND IT IS THIS COST IN TERMS OF LIVES
PARTICULARLY THAT MAKES US GO AT THE PACE AT WHICH WE ARE GOING.
// END ACT //
// OPT // INDIAN OFFICIALS CONFIRM THE MILITARY COMMANDERS OF
BOTH INDIA AND PAKISTAN HAVE HELD A TELEPHONE CONVERSATION ABOUT
THE SITUATION IN KASHMIR. THE TALK FOLLOWS AN EXCHANGE OF
MESSAGES ON SUNDAY BETWEEN THE PRIME MINISTERS OF BOTH NATIONS,
AND A FLURRY OF DIPLOMATIC ACTIVITY IN RECENT DAYS AS OFFICIAL
AND NON-OFFICIAL EMMISSARIES HAVE FLOWN BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN
NEW DELHI AND ISLAMABAD.
// END OPT // MR. ADVANI, A CLOSE CONFIDANT OF INDIA'S PRIME
MINISTER ATAL BEHARI VAJPAYEE, SAYS DIRECT TALKS BETWEEN INDIA
AND PAKISTAN CAN ONLY TAKE PLACE IF PAKISTAN WITHDRAWS, WHAT HE
CALLS, INFILTRATORS FROM INDIAN TERRITORY.
// ADVANI ACT //
NOTHING SHORT OF STATUS QUO ANTE, THE WITHDRAWAL OF PAKISTAN'S
AGGRESSION IN THE KARGIL REGION OF KASHMIR. ONLY GOING BACK
BEHIND THE LINE OF CONTROL ON THEIR SIDE CAN LEAD TO ANY
DISCUSSION.
// END ACT //
MR. ADVANI ALSO REPEATED A STATEMENT MADE BY INDIA'S PRIME
MINISTER THAT INDIA HAS NO INTENTION OF CROSSING THE LINE OF
CONTROL WHICH DIVIDES KASHMIR TO ATTACK THE GUERRILLAS SUPPLY
ROUTES. L-K ADVANI SAYS INDIA HAS BENEFITTED BOTH
DIPLOMATICALLY AND MILITARILY FROM ITS POLICY OF STAYING ON ITS
SIDE OF THE KASHMIR BORDER, AND INDIA HAS NO INTENTION OF
CHANGING THAT POLICY NOW. (SIGNED)
NEB/JT/PLM
01-Jul-99 6:54 AM EDT (1054 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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