DATE=7/6/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-251485
TITLE=INDIA/KASHMIR (L-O)
BYLINE=ANJANA PASRICHA
DATELINE=NEW DELHI
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: FIERCE FIGHTING CONTINUES IN INDIAN KASHMIR, AS INDIA
SAYS THERE IS NO SIGN OF ISLAMIC FIGHTERS LEAVING ITS TERRITORY.
NEW DELHI IS RULING OUT A CEASEFIRE UNTIL ALL INTRUDERS WITHDRAW
FROM THE HIMALAYAN REGION. ANJANA PASRICHA HAS A REPORT ON THE
KASHMIR CRISIS FROM THE INDIAN CAPITAL.
TEXT: INDIAN OFFICIALS SAY THERE IS NO SIGN OF MUSLIM FIGHTERS
WITHDRAWING FROM INDIAN KASHMIR. HOME MINISTER L-K ADVANI SAYS
MILITARY OPERATIONS IN THE HIMALAYAN REGION WILL CONTINUE, UNTIL
EVERY INTRUDER IS EVICTED FROM INDIAN TERRITORY.
FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESMAN RAMINDER JASSAL SAYS NEW DELHI IS
WAITING TO SEE EVIDENCE FIGHTERS ARE BEING WITHDRAWN FROM INDIAN
KASHMIR AS PROMISED BY THE PAKISTANI PRIME MINISTER.
/// INSERT JASSAL ACT ///
WE DO NOT HAVE ANY EVIDENCE ON THE GROUND OF PAKISTANI
FORCES OR THE EXTREMIST ELEMENTS UNDER THEIR COMMAND AND
MANAGEMENT WITHDRAWING FROM THE RESIDUAL AREAS UNDER
THEIR OCCUPATION. IT IS FOR THE PAKISTAN SIDE TO DECIDE
AND SHOW SOME EVIDENCE ON THE GROUND OF THE WITHDRAWAL
OF THEIR REGULARS AND THE EXTREMIST ELEMENTS.
/// END JASSAL ACT ///
AS INDIA WAITS FOR THE FIGHTERS TO LEAVE, THERE IS NO LET-UP IN
ITS MILITARY OFFENSIVE. INDIAN FORCES HAVE MOVED THE FOCUS OF
THEIR OPERATIONS TO KASHMIR'S BATALIK REGION -- THE LAST OF THREE
MAJOR SECTORS ALONG A 140-KILOMETER-LONG BORDER WHERE FIGHTING IS
TAKING PLACE.
DEFENSE OFFICIALS SAY TROOPS HAVE CAPTURED THREE MOUNTAIN PEAKS
IN BATALIK AFTER FIERCE BATTLES. THEY SAY INTRUDERS HAVE BEEN
PUSHED TO WITHIN THREE-KILOMETERS OF THE KASHMIR BORDER. INTENSE
CROSS-BORDER ARTILLERY SHELLING CONTINUES ALONG THE BATTLE-FRONT.
TENSION ALSO REMAINS HIGH ON THE DIPLOMATIC FRONT BETWEEN THE TWO
COUNTRIES. INDIA SAYS ONE OF ITS EMBASSY EMPLOYEES IN ISLAMABAD
HAS BEEN ABDUCTED AND MISTREATED BY PAKISTAN. ISLAMABAD SAYS TWO
OF ITS EMBASSY OFFICIALS IN NEW DELHI HAVE ALSO BEEN ABDUCTED AND
MISTREATED BY INDIA.
MEANWHILE, INDIAN OFFICIALS AND MEDIA ARE CALLING PAKISTANI PRIME
MINISTER NAWAZ SHARIF'S AGREEMENT WITH PRESIDENT CLINTON TO
WITHDRAW FIGHTERS FROM INDIAN KASHMIR A DIPLOMATIC VICTORY FOR
NEW DELHI.
BUT THERE IS SPECULATION WHETHER THE PAKISTANI PRIME MINISTER CAN
DELIVER ON PROMISES TO WITHDRAW FIGHTERS FROM KASHMIR IN THE FACE
OF OPPOSITION FROM THE PAKISTANI ARMY AND FUNDAMENTALIST GROUPS.
INDIA SAYS REGULAR PAKISTANI ARMY TROOPS ARE AMONG THE INTRUDERS,
BUT PAKISTANI OFFICIALS DENY INVOLVEMENT WITH THE FIGHTERS.
THE TOLL IN THE MILITARY OPERATION CONTINUES TO MOUNT. INDIA HAS
LOST 283 SOLDIERS AND OFFICERS. ANOTHER 451 ARE WOUNDED. INDIA
ALSO SAYS IT HAS INFLICTED HEAVY CASUALTIES ON THE MUSLIM
FIGHTERS. (SIGNED)
NEB/AP/LTD/RAE
06-Jul-99 9:17 AM EDT (1317 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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