DATE=7/12/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-251654
TITLE=INDIA / FIGHTING (L)
BYLINE=ANJANA PASRICHA ,
DATELINE=NEW DELHI
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: FIGHTING IN KASHMIR BETWEEN INDIAN FORCES AND ISLAMIC
FIGHTERS IS WINDING DOWN AS MUSLIM MILITANTS BEGIN TO WITHDRAW
FROM THE HIMALAYAN REGION. ANJANA PASRICHA REPORTS FROM NEW
DELHI, THE TWO-MONTH MILITARY OFFENSIVE IN THE MOUNTAINS OF
KASHMIR APPEARS TO BE DRAWING TO A CLOSE AS INDIA HALTS AIR
STRIKES AND GROUND ASSAULTS IN KASHMIR, AND PAKISTAN SAYS
FIGHTERS WILL DISENGAGE FROM THE REGION.
TEXT: AFTER TWO MONTHS OF INTENSE FIGHTING, GUNS ARE FALLING
SILENT IN KASHMIR'S KARGIL REGION, FROM WHERE ISLAMIC FIGHTERS
ARE WITHDRAWING FROM THE HIGH MOUNTAIN PEAKS THEY CAPTURED
EARLIER THIS YEAR.
INDIAN OFFICIALS SAY THE INTRUDERS ARE LEAVING THE MUSKHOH VALLEY
AND KAKSAR SECTORS. THE OTHER REGIONS OCCUPIED BY INFILTRATORS --
BATALIK AND DRAS -- ARE LARGELY UNDER THE CONTROL OF INDIAN
FORCES.
INDIAN SOLDIERS HAVE BEEN HOLDING THEIR FIRE SINCE TOP MILITARY
COMMANDERS FROM INDIA AND PAKISTAN MET NEAR THE KASHMIR BORDER,
AND AGREED ON A PLAN TO WITHDRAW THE MUSLIM FIGHTERS FROM INDIAN
TERRITORY.
HOWEVER, SCATTERED FIGHTING AND ARTILLERY SHELLING IS STILL BEING
REPORTED FROM SOME PLACES.
IN FACT, THERE IS NO OFFICIAL CEASEFIRE. IN A STATEMENT MONDAY,
THE DEFENSE MINISTRY SAID INDIA'S MILITARY OPERATION IS
CONTINUING AND THERE IS NO QUESTION OF THE INDIAN ARMY PULLING
OUT ITS FORCES FROM KASHMIR.
BUT INDIAN OFFICIALS SAY "WE DO NOT SHOOT PEOPLE IN THE BACK",
INDICATING THE INTRUDERS ARE BEING ALLOWED TO RETREAT. SOLDIERS
ARE BEING TOLD TO OCCUPY PEAKS AFTER FIGHTERS DISMANTLE THEIR
POSITIONS AND WITHDRAW. MAJOR GENERAL J.J. SINGH SAYS INTRUDERS
ARE LEAVING THEIR POSITIONS.
///INSERT SINGH ACT///
WE HAVE NOTICED SOME MOVEMENTS WHICH COULD BE CONSTRUED AS HIS
(ENEMY'S) THINNING OUT FROM CERTAIN POSITIONS. YES, IN SOME
PLACES WE HAVE NOTICED SOME THINNING OUT TAKING PLACE.
///END SINGH ACT///
THE TWO-MONTH FIGHTING TOOK PLACE ON DIFFICULT MOUNTAIN TERRAIN,
AND INDIA CONDUCTED ALMOST DAILY AIR STRIKES TO BOMB GUERRILLA
POSITIONS. CASUALTIES HAVE BEEN HEAVY ON BOTH SIDES. MAJOR
GENERAL SINGH SAYS INDIA LOST 333 SOLDIERS AND OFFICERS, MORE
THAN 500 ARE WOUNDED.
///INSERT SINGH ACT///
WE HAVE SUFFERED HEAVY CASUALTIES IN THESE OPERATIONS AS
YOU ARE AWARE BECAUSE OF THE FIERCE HAND TO HAND
ENGAGEMENTS OUR GALLANT SOLDIERS HAD TO FACE.
///END SINGH ACT///
PAKISTAN DENIES INVOLVEMENT IN THE FIGHTING. INDIA SAYS THE
FIGHTERS WERE PAKISTANI TROOPS ALONG WITH SOME ISLAMIC
GUERRILLAS.
THE MILITARY STANDOFF HAS BEEN THE WORST SINCE THE TWO COUNTRIES
FOUGHT THEIR LAST WAR IN 1971, AND HAD RAISED FEARS OF A FOURTH
WAR BETWEEN THE TWO NUCLEAR RIVALS. (SIGNED)
NEB/AP/PLM
12-Jul-99 5:32 AM EDT (0932 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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