DATE=7/3/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-251396
TITLE=INDO / PAK / KASHMIR (L)
BYLINE=JIM TEEPLE
DATELINE=NEW DELHI
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: INDIAN COMMANDERS IN KASHMIR SAY THEIR TROOPS ARE TAKING
HEAVY CASULTIES AS THEY TRY TO RECAPTURE "TIGER HILL," THE LAST
STRATEGIC PEAK OVERLOOKING THE MAIN (EAST-WEST) HIGHWAY IN THE
REGION. INDIA SAYS 23 OF ITS SOLDIERS HAVE BEEN KILLED IN THE
LAST 24 HOURS, RAISING THE INDIAN DEATH TOLL TO 240 SINCE
FIGHTING BEGAN SEVEN WEEKS AGO. V-O-A'S JIM TEEPLE REPORTS INDIA
SAYS IT HAS INFLICTED HEAVY LOSSES ON ENEMY FIGHTERS, KILLING AT
LEAST 476 IN HEAVY COMBAT.
TEXT: INDIAN COMMANDERS SAY, AS THEIR TROOPS GET CLOSER TO
CAPTURING BUNKERS HELD BY WHAT THEY DESCRIBE AS PAKISTANI-BACKED
INFILTRATORS INSIDE INDIAN KASHMIR, FIGHTING IS INTENSIFYING.
HEAVY FIGHTING IS NOW TAKING PLACE NEAR THE SUMMIT OF "TIGER
HILL," WHICH INDIAN TROOPS HAVE BEEN TRYING TO CAPTURE FOR
SEVERAL DAYS.
INDIAN ARMY COLONEL BIKRAM SINGH SAYS CASULTIES ARE RISING
BECAUSE INDIAN TROOPS ARE SUCCESSFULLY PUSHING ENEMY FIGHTERS
BACK -- CLOSER TO THE "LINE OF CONTROL" WHICH DIVIDES KASHMIR.
COLONEL SINGH SAYS FIGHTING AT FIVE-THOUSAND METERS, ALONG NEARLY
VERTICAL RIDGES, AGAINST AN ENEMY ENTRENCHED IN BUNKERS, IS A
DIFFICULT TASK.
/// SINGH ACT ///
HEAVY CASUALTIES ARE TAKING PLACE, BY THE NATURE OF THE
TERRAIN AND THE FACT THAT THE TROOPS WHO ARE LAUNCHING
ATTACKS, THEY ARE LAUNCHING AGAINST THE ENEMY IN THE
HIGH REACHES AND ENEMY IS FIRING ALMOST DIRECTLY ON TO
YOU AS YOU ARE GOING UP. IT IS VERY DIFFICULT.
/// END ACT ///
COLONEL SINGH SAYS NEARLY 700 ENEMY FIGHTERS REMAIN IN KASHMIR.
THE FIGHTERS, HE SAYS, HAVE BEEN REINFORCED WITH SUPPLIES FROM
PAKISTAN THROUGHOUT THE FIGHTING. PAKISTAN DENIES ANY
INVOLVEMENT IN THE FIGHTING, SAYING ITS TROOPS ARE ONLY ENGAGED
IN RETALIATORY SHELLING ALONG THE "LINE OF CONTROL."
/// REST OPT ///
INDIA'S LAW MINISTER IS ACCUSING PAKISTAN OF UNSPECIFIED WAR
CRIMES, SAYING INDIA WILL PRESENT EVIDENCE TO THE INTERNATIONAL
COURT OF JUSTICE IN THE NETHERLANDS.
MEANWHILE, INDIA'S DEFENSE MINISTER, GEORGE FERNANDES, SAYS
INDIAN TROOPS WILL -- IN HIS WORDS -- "THROW OUT THE INFILTRATORS
COMPLETELY, WITHIN ONE WEEK." MR. FERNANDES MADE HIS COMMENTS
SATURDAY, INAUGURATING A WAR MEMORIAL IN INDIA'S FINANCIAL
CAPITAL, BOMBAY.
FOR THEIR PART, MILITARY COMMANDERS REFUSE TO COMMENT ABOUT THE
DURATION OF THE FIGHTING, SAYING ONLY THEY WILL FIGHT AS LONG AS
IT TAKES, EVEN INTO WINTER, TO PUSH THE INTRUDERS OUT OF INDIAN
TERRITORY. (SIGNED)
NEB/JLT/WTW
03-Jul-99 9:37 AM EDT (1337 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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