DATE=7/4/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-251405
TITLE=INDIA/KASHMIR (L)
BYLINE=ANJANA PASRICHA
DATELINE=NEW DELHI
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: INDIA SAYS IT HAS RECAPTURED A STRATEGIC MOUNTAIN RANGE
IN INDIAN KASHMIR. INDIAN COMMANDERS ARE DESCRIBING THIS AS A
SIGNIFICANT STEP FORWARD IN THEIR MILITARY CAMPAIGN TO EVICT WHAT
NEW DELHI SAYS ARE PAKISTANI-BACKED ARMED INTRUDERS. ANJANA
PASRICHA REPORTS FROM NEW DELHI, PRESIDENT CLINTON HAS HELD A
TELEPHONE DISCUSSION WITH THE INDIAN PRIME MINISTER ON THE
KASHMIR CRISIS.
TEXT: THE RECAPTURE OF "TIGER HILLS" CAME AFTER WHAT DEFENSE
OFFICIALS DESCRIBE AS A LONG AND HARD BATTLE ON THE SUMMIT.
TIGER HILLS IS THE LAST STRATEGIC PEAK OVERLOOKING THE MAIN
EAST-WEST HIGHWAY IN KASHMIR. IT IS ONE OF SEVERAL MOUNTAIN
RANGES WHICH INDIA SAYS WERE OCCUPIED BY ISLAMIC GUERRILLAS AND
PAKISTANI TROOPS EARLIER THIS YEAR.
DEFENSE SPOKESMAN COLONEL BIKRAM SINGH DESCRIBES THE CAPTURE OF
TIGER HILLS AS A "TURNING POINT" IN INDIA'S MILITARY OFFENSIVE.
/// INSERT SINGH ACT ///
TIGER HILLS IS THE MOST DOMINATING FEATURE IN DRAS SECTOR, AND
WITH CAPTURE OF THIS POSITION, CAPTURE OF THE OTHER REMAINING
POSITIONS OF THE ENEMY WOULD BE FACILITATED. IN ADDITION, THE
OBSERVATION OF THE ENEMY IN REGARD TO NATIONAL HIGHWAY ONE-ALPHA
HAS BEEN ELIMINATED TO A LARGE EXTENT.
/// END SINGH ACT ///
DEFENSE OFFICIALS SAY THE TYPE OF WEAPONS AND EQUIPMENT SEIZED IN
THE BATTLE FOR TIGER HILLS PROVE PAKISTAN'S INVOLVEMENT IN THE
INTRUSION -- A CHARGE DENIED BY ISLAMABAD.
INDIAN FORCES HAVE SUFFERED HEAVY CASUALTIES IN RECENT DAYS AS
THEY LAUNCHED THE FINAL ASSAULT TO GAIN TIGER HILLS BY CLEARING
NEIGHBORING RIDGES. MILITARY OFFICIALS SAY HEAVY ARTILLERY
FIGHTING IS ALSO CONTINUING FOR CONTROL OF NEIGHBORING MOUNTAINS
ALONG THE WINDING KASHMIR BORDER.
MEANWHILE, THERE ARE INDICATIONS OF FRESH DIPLOMATIC MOVEMENTS TO
SOLVE THE KASHMIR CRISIS THAT HAS RAISED FEARS OF A FOURTH WAR
BETWEEN INDIA AND PAKISTAN.
PRESIDENT CLINTON HAD A TELEPHONE CONVERSATION SATURDAY WITH
INDIAN PRIME MINISTER ATAL BEHARI VAJPAYEE, PRIOR TO PAKISTANI
PRIME MINISTER NAWAZ SHARIF'S VISIT TO WASHINGTON.
INDIAN OFFICIALS ARE NOT DISCLOSING DETAILS OF THE TALKS, EXCEPT
TO SAY PRIME MINISTER VAJPAYEE HAS REFUSED AN INVITATION BY
PRESIDENT CLINTON TO VISIT WASHINGTON, AT AN EARLY DATE.
ANALYSTS SAY THE REFUSAL IS PROMPTED BY NEW DELHI'S POSITION THAT
THE KASHMIR DISPUTE MUST BE SOLVED BILATERALLY BETWEEN INDIA AND
PAKISTAN.
BUT FOREIGN MINISTRY OFFICIALS ARE REITERATING NEW DELHI'S
DETERMINATION NOT TO RESUME PEACE TALKS WITH PAKISTAN UNTIL THE
FIGHTING IS OVER OR ISLAMABAD WITHDRAWS THE ARMED INTRUDERS.
PAKISTAN IS ACCUSING INDIA OF SHUTTING THE DOOR ON EFFORTS TO
DEFUSE THE CRISIS BY REFUSING TO HOLD A DIALOGUE. INDIA SAYS
PAKISTAN IS SIMPLY TRYING TO -- BUY TIME -- BY PROPOSING TALKS,
AND IS NOT SHOWING ANY SIGNS OF WITHDRAWING THE GUERRILLAS FROM
INDIAN KASHMIR. (SIGNED)
NEB/AP/RAE
04-Jul-99 9:24 AM EDT (1324 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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