• Military

• WMD Menu                           

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

DATE=7/11/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-251635
TITLE=INDIA/FIGHTING (L-O)
BYLINE=ANJANA PASRICHA
DATELINE=NEW DELHI
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO:  INDIA SAYS IT EXPECTS AN EARLY END TO ITS MILITARY 
OFFENSIVE IN KASHMIR AS TOP MILITARY COMMANDERS OF INDIA AND 
PAKISTAN HELD A MEETING (SUNDAY) NEAR THE KASHMIR BORDER.  INDIAN
COMMANDERS SAY THE TASK OF EVICTING MUSLIM FIGHTERS FROM INDIAN 
KASHMIR IS NEARLY COMPLETE.
TEXT:  DEFENSE OFFICIALS SAID (SUNDAY) MILITARY OPERATIONS TO 
EVICT MUSLIM FIGHTERS FROM KASHMIR HAVE REACHED A DECISIVE POINT.
THEY SAY SOLDIERS ARE MEETING LITTLE RESISTANCE FROM THE 
INTRUDERS. 
AFTER A WEEK OF SOME OF THE HEAVIEST FIGHTING IN THE TWO-MONTH 
OPERATION, OFFICIALS NOW SAY THERE IS A DECLINE IN THE FIGHTING. 
REPORTS FROM KASHMIR SAY INDIAN SOLDIERS ARE HOLDING THEIR FIRE 
IN SOME AREAS TO PERMIT ENEMY FIGHTERS TO LEAVE.
MAJOR GENERAL J-J SINGH SAYS TWO OF THE FOUR SECTORS WHERE 
INTRUDERS HAD CAPTURED HIGH MOUNTAIN PEAKS ARE UNDER THE CONTROL 
OF THE INDIAN ARMY -- AND THERE IS, WHAT HE CALLS -- A THINNING 
OUT -- OF ENEMY FIGHTERS IN THE OTHER SECTORS. 
                    /// INSERT SINGH ACT /// 
 THE TASK MANDATED TO THE ARMY BY THE GOVERNMENT OF INDIA, THAT 
IS THE EVICTION OF THE ENEMY HAS VIRTUALLY BEEN ACCOMPLISHED IN 
DRAS AND BATALIK SECTORS, AND WE ARE ON THE WAY TO ACHIEVING THIS
IN THE OTHER SECTORS AND THUS RESTORING THE SANCTITY OF THE LINE 
OF CONTROL IN KARGIL.
                      /// END SINGH ACT ///
AS INDIA LOOKS AHEAD TO ENDING ITS MILITARY OPERATION IN KASHMIR,
IT IS ALSO CLAIMING A DIPLOMATIC VICTORY OVER PAKISTAN.  FOREIGN 
MINISTRY SPOKESMAN RAMINDER JASSAL SAYS PAKISTAN HAS BEEN 
"ISOLATED" IN ITS BID TO CAPTURE INDIAN TERRITORY IN KASHMIR.
                       /// JASSAL ACT /// 
 THIS SIGNAL SUCCESS THAT HAS BEEN ACHIEVED FOR THE COUNTRY HAS 
BEEN DONE BY A PINCER OF DIPLOMATIC AND MILITARY ACTION.  
PAKISTANI FORCES HAVE BEEN DECISIVELY DEFEATED ON THE GROUND.  
PAKISTAN STANDS DIPLOMATICALLY ISOLATED.
                     /// END JASSAL ACT ///
INDIA SAYS THE FIGHTERS IN KASHMIR ARE PAKISTANI SOLDIERS AND 
ISLAMIC GUERRILLAS.  PAKISTAN DENIES ITS INVOLVEMENT IN THE 
FIGHTING.  BUT IT HAS CALLED ON THE INTRUDERS TO -- RESOLVE THE 
CRISIS.  THE MILITANTS HAVE VOWED TO FIGHT TO THE END.
THE FIGHTING IN KASHMIR HAS RESULTED IN HEAVY CASUALTIES ON BOTH 
SIDES.  INDIA HAS LOST 327-SOLDIERS AND OFFICERS, AND CLAIMS IT 
HAS KILLED 670 PAKISTANI SOLDIERS AND GUERRILLAS.   (SIGNED)
NEB/AP/RAE
11-Jul-99 9:59 AM EDT (1359 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.