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DATE=7/10/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-251619
TITLE=INDIA / PAKISTAN FIGHTING
BYLINE=PAMELA D'SOUZA
DATELINE=NEW DELHI
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
INTRO:  INDIAN MILITARY OFFICIALS SAY THEY HAVE NEARLY CLEARED 
ALL SECTORS OF INDIAN KASHMIR AND THE ARMY IS NOW CONSOLIDATING  
POSITIONS IT GAINED IN THE PAST 48 HOURS.  PAMELA D'SOUZA REPORTS
FROM NEW DELHI, INDIAN PRIME MINISTER ATAL BEHARI VAJPAYEE MET 
WITH THE LEADERS OF THE MILITARY ON SATURDAY TO PRAISE THEM FOR 
THEIR LATEST VICTORIES.
TEXT:  INDIAN DEFENSE OFFICIALS SAY THEY ARE HOLDING ON TO THE 
POSITIONS THEY HAD EARLIER RECAPTURED FROM ENEMY FIGHTERS, BUT 
THEY CONTINUE FACING COUNTERATTACKS IN SOME OF THE BATTLE AREAS.
THE OFFICIALS SAY THERE IS  NO  PROOF YET OF THE ENEMY 
WITHDRAWING FROM INDIAN KASHMIR EVEN AFTER PAKISTANI PRIME 
MINISTER NAWAZ SHARIF CALLED FOR THEIR WITHDRAWAL A WEEK AGO.
INDIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESMAN RAMINDER JASSAL SAID THE 
FIGHTERS ARE REGULAR PAKISTANI SOLDIERS AND AS SUCH PAKISTAN'S SO
CALLED APPEAL FOR THEIR PULLOUT IS SUSPECT.
                        // JASSAL ACT //
         I'D LIKE TO REITERATE THAT IT'S NOT FOR US TO COMMENT ON
         THE INTERNAL MEETINGS THAT THE PRIME MINISTER OF 
         PAKISTAN WOULD BE TAKING WITH ANY GROUPS OR WITHIN HIS 
         GOVERNMENT; BUT THE POINT WE HAVE BEEN EMPHASIZING TIME 
         AND AGAIN IS THAT THE MILITARY OPERATIONS THAT WE HAVE 
         CONDUCTED HAVE BEEN AGAINST REGULAR PAKISTANI TROOPS 
         FROM ACROSS THE BORDER.
                          // END ACT//
IN ADDITION TO THE ARMY CAMPAIGN, THE INDIAN AIR FORCE HAS 
INTENSIFIED ITS ATTACKS BY DROPPING BOMBS ON ENEMY POSITIONS VERY
CLOSE TO THE LINE OF CONTROL THAT DIVIDES INDIAN KASHMIR FROM 
PAKISTANI KASHMIR.  AIR FORCE SPOKESMAN, GROUP CAPTAIN D.N. 
GANESH SAYS THE AIR ATTACKS  HAVE SUCCEEDED IN CUTTING-OFF ALL 
SUPPLY LINES TO THE MILITANTS. AND ENSURING INDIAN ARMY'S SUCCESS
IN PUSHING THEM BACK.
                        // GANESH ACT //
         IT'S ALL VERY WELL TO SEE PHOTOGRAPHS OF CRATERS IN THE 
         GROUND, BUT WHAT DO THE EFFECTS LOOK LIKE.  NOW THE 
         EFFECTS HAVE STARTED COMING UP IN THE FORM OF RADIO 
         INTERCEPTS, WHERE THE ENEMY IS PASSING MESSAGES THAT HE 
         DOESN'T HAVE RATIONS, HE DOESN'T HAVE WATER, HE DOESN'T 
         HAVE MEDICINES, HE DOESN'T HAVE AMMUNITION. HE WANTS TO 
         GET BACK, HE CAN'T EVACUATE HIS MOVEMENT. 
                          // END ACT //
EARLIER TODAY, INDIAN PRIME MINISTER VAJPAYEE MET WITH THE CHIEFS
OF INDIA'S ARMED FORCES TO CONGRATULATE THEM ON THE SUCCESS OF 
THEIR MILITARY OPERATIONS IN KASHMIR.  THE PRIME MINISTER ALSO 
PAID HOMAGE TO INDIAN SOLDIERS KILLED IN THE FIGHTING.
ALTHOUGH INDIA SAYS IT IS MAKING GAINS AGAINST THE INFILTRATORS, 
INTENSE FIGHTING CONTINUES, CAUSING HEAVY CASUALTIES ON BOTH 
SIDES OF THE FRONTIER. (SIGNED)
NEB/PD/KL
10-Jul-99 11:08 AM EDT (1508 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.