DATE=7/5/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-251444
TITLE=INDIA / PAK / KASHMIR (L)
BYLINE=JIM TEEPLE
DATELINE=NEW DELHI
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: INDIA SAYS IT WILL WATCH DEVELOPMENTS ON THE GROUND IN
KASHMIR TO SEE IF WHAT IT CALLS -- PAKISTANI-BACKED INFILTRATORS
BEGIN TO LEAVE ITS TERRITORY FOLLOWING TALKS IN WASHINGTON
BETWEEN PRESIDENT CLINTON AND PAKISTAN'S PRIME MINISTER NAWAZ
SHARIF. CORRESPONDENT JIM TEEPLE REPORTS FROM NEW DELHI, THAT
INDIA SAYS THE KASHMIR CONFLICT IS A BILATERAL ISSUE AND THE
WASHINGTON TALKS DO NOT MEAN THE UNITED STATES HAS BECOME A
MEDIATOR TO THE DISPUTE.
TEXT: INDIAN OFFICIALS SAY THEY HAVE BEEN FULLY BRIEFED BY U-S
OFFICIALS ABOUT THE WASHINGTON TALKS, AND THOSE OFFICIALS HAVE
ASSURED THEM PAKISTAN HAS AGREED TO WITHDRAW FORCES FROM THE
INDIAN SIDE OF THE LINE OF CONTROL WHICH DIVIDES KASHMIR.
RAMINDER JASSAL THE CHIEF SPOKESMAN FOR INDIA'S FOREIGN MINISTER
SAYS INDIA WILL NOW WATCH AND WAIT, TO SEE IF PAKISTAN LIVES UP
THE COMMITMENT IT MADE IN WASHINGTON.
// JASSAL ACT //
WE HOPE PAKISTAN WILL HEED THIS CALL IMMEDIATELY. WE
WILL BE WATCHING DEVELOPMENTS ON THE GROUND. WE
REAFFIRM THAT PAKISTAN'S ARMED INTRUSION AND AGGRESSION
HAS TO BE VACATED.
// END ACT //
INDIA ACCUSES PAKISTAN OF INVADING ITS TERRITORY USING A MIX OF
PAKISTANI ARMY REGULARS AND ISLAMIC MILITANTS. PAKISTAN DENIES
INVOLVEMENT IN THE FIGHTING IN KASHMIR. INDIA SAYS IT HAS
CAPTURED, IN ITS TERRITORY, ONE PAKISTANI SOLDIER WHO BELONGS TO
A BATTALION OF PAKISTAN'S NORTHERN LIGHT INFANTRY.
RAMINDER JASSAL OF INDIA'S FOREIGN MINISTRY SAYS THE TALKS
BETWEEN PRIME MINISTER SHARIF AND PRESIDENT CLINTON IN WASHINGTON
DO NOT MEAN THE UNITED STATES IS IN ANY WAY MEDIATING THE KASHMIR
CONFLICT OR ANY OTHER BILATERAL ISSUES BETWEEN INDIA AND
PAKISTAN.
// 2ND JASSAL ACT //
IT IS DIRECT AND BILATERAL. IN THIS PROCESS THERE IS NO
PLACE WHATSOEVER FOR ANY THIRD PARTY INVOLVEMENT. THE
SAME IS TRUE FOR ANY OTHER ASPECTS OF INDIA-PAKISTAN
RELATIONS.
// END ACT //
MR. JASSAL SAYS INDIA'S MILITARY OPERATION TO CLEAR ENEMY
FIGHTERS FROM ITS TERRITORY IS MAKING STEADY PROGRESS AND WILL
CONTINUE.
// REST OPT //
SUNDAY, INDIA CAPTURED THE SUMMIT OF "TIGER HILL" WHICH OVERLOOKS
THE MAIN EAST-WEST HIGHWAY IN KASHMIR. MILITARY COMMANDERS SAY
FIGHTING CONTINUES ON THE SLOPES OF "TIGER HILL" AS THEY CONDUCT
WHAT THEY DESCRIBE AS MOPPING UP OPERATIONS.
COMMANDERS SAY THEY WILL SHIFT THE BULK OF THEIR FORCES TO AN
AREA OF KASHMIR KNOWN AS THE "BATALIK SECTOR" WHERE THEY SAY
THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF FIGHTERS DUG IN ON SEVERAL PEAKS.
COMMANDERS SAY THE FIGHTING IN BATALIK WILL BE EQUALLY AS
DIFFICULT AS ON "TIGER HILL." (SIGNED)
NEB/JLT/RAE
05-Jul-99 9:48 AM EDT (1348 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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