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DATE=7/15/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-251802
TITLE=INDIA/FIGHTING (L-O)
BYLINE=ANJANA PASRICHA
DATELINE=NEW DELHI
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
INTRO:  INDIA SAYS ITS TROOPS HAVE REACHED THE KASHMIR BORDER IN 
THREE OF FOUR SECTORS WHERE ISLAMIC FIGHTERS HAD SEIZED MOUNTAIN 
RIDGES.  ANJANA PASRICHA REPORTS FROM NEW DELHI, INDIAN FORCES 
ARE POISED FOR THE FINAL PUSH TOWARD THE FRONTIER WITH PAKISTAN 
AS FIGHTERS CONTINUE TO RETREAT FROM THE MOUNTAIN RIDGES. 
TEXT:  OFFICIALS SAY HUNDREDS OF INDIAN SOLDIERS HAVE TAKEN 
CONTROL OF MOUNTAIN PEAKS ALONG MOST OF THE LINE OF CONTROL THAT 
DIVIDES KASHMIR BETWEEN INDIA AND PAKISTAN.  DEFENSE SPOKESMAN 
COLONEL BIKRAM SINGH SAYS SOLDIERS ARE ALSO WITHDRAWING FROM THE 
LAST SECTOR WHERE INFILTRATORS REMAIN -- THE MUSKHOH VALLEY. 
                     /// INSERT SINGH ///  
         IN BATALIK, KAKSAR AND DRAS SECTORS OUR TROOPS HAVE 
         OCCUPIED POSITIONS ON THE LINE OF CONTROL BARRING TWO 
         POSITIONS IN THE DRAS SECTOR, FROM WHERE THE ENEMY IS 
         ALSO WITHDRAWING. IN THE MUSKHOH VALLEY OUR TROOPS ARE 
         MOVING FORWARD AND TAKING UP POSITIONS CLOSE TO THE LINE
         OF CONTROL.
                        /// END SINGH ///
OFFICIALS SAY PAKISTAN APPEARS TO BE COMPLYING WITH A FRIDAY 
DEADLINE SET BY NEW DELHI FOR THE FIGHTERS TO LEAVE.  BUT INDIAN 
TROOPS ARE MOVING FORWARD SLOWLY TO OCCUPY THE MOUNTAIN RIDGES 
BECAUSE OF EXTENSIVE LANDMINES PLANTED BY THE RETREATING FIGHTERS
-- AND IT COULD TAKE TWO DAYS TO TAKE FULL CONTROL OF THE AREA 
THAT FIGHTERS HAD SEIZED. 
ONE INDIAN SOLDIER WAS KILLED BY A LANDMINE WEDNESDAY.  OFFICIALS
SAY SCORES OF DEAD BODIES OF ENEMY FIGHTERS ARE BEING RECOVERED 
FROM THE MOUNTAINSIDES. 
INDIA HAS SAID IT WILL LAUNCH OPERATIONS FRIDAY TO CLEAR 
INFILTRATORS REMAINING ON ITS TERRITORY.
THERE IS RELATIVE CALM ON THE BATTLEFRONT.  HEAVY EXCHANGES OF 
ARTILLERY SHELLING HAVE STOPPED.  AIR AND GROUND STRIKES WERE 
HALTED THIS WEEK TO ALLOW THE FIGHTERS TO LEAVE. 
INDIAN OFFICIALS ARE DISMISSING RECENT STATEMENTS BY ISLAMIC 
MILITANT GROUPS THAT FIGHTERS IN KASHMIR ARE ONLY CHANGING 
POSITIONS, AND NOT WITHDRAWING.  THE OFFICIALS SAY MOST OF THE 
RETREATING FIGHTERS ARE NOT GUERRILLAS, BUT PAKISTAN ARMY 
REGULARS.  PAKISTAN DENIES INVOLVEMENT IN THE FIGHTING. 
// OPT //  INDIAN OFFICIALS ALSO SAY ISLAMABAD IS REFUSING TO 
IDENTIFY AND CLAIM THE BODIES OF TWO PAKSITANI OFFICERS FOUND IN 
THE BATTLEZONE.  // END OPT // 
DURING TWO-MONTH CONFLICT, INDIA HAS LOST 407 SOLDIERS AND SAYS 
IT HAS KILLED 696 ENEMY FIGHTERS.  HUNDREDS ARE WOUNDED ON BOTH 
SIDES.   (SIGNED) 
NEB/AP/RAE
15-Jul-99 9:30 AM EDT (1330 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.