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DATE=7/16/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-251846
TITLE=INDIA/PAKISTAN  (L)
BYLINE=ANJANA PASRICHA
DATELINE=NEW DELHI
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
INTRO:  INDIA SAYS THE WITHDRAWAL OF ISLAMIC FIGHTERS FROM INDIAN
KASHMIR IS EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS.  
ANJANA PASRICHA REPORTS FROM NEW DELHI, INDIA HAD SET A FRIDAY 
DEADLINE FOR THE WITHDRAWAL, BUT LATER EXTENDED THIS TO ENABLE 
THE LAST FIGHTERS TO LEAVE. 
TEXT:  DEFENSE OFFICIALS SAY THE FRIDAY DEADLINE FOR FIGHTERS TO 
LEAVE INDIAN TERRITORY HAS BEEN EXTENDED UNTIL DAWN SATURDAY. 
DEFENSE SPOKESMAN COLONEL BIKRAM SINGH SAYS THIS WAS DONE ON THE 
REQUEST OF PAKISTANI AUTHORITIES BECAUSE ENEMY FIGHTERS IN SOME 
AREAS WERE TAKING LONGER THAN EXPECTED TO COME DOWN THE STEEP 
MOUNTAIN SLOPES OF KASHMIR. 
                     ///INSERT SINGH ACT///
         THE EXTENSION THAT HAS BEEN GIVEN IS BASED ON GROUND 
         REALITIES, AND KEEPING IN MIND THE TERRAIN CONFIGURATION
         AND THE ABILITY OF THE ENEMY TO WITHDRAW OVER THAT 
         STRETCH.
                      ///END SINGH ACT/// 
INDIA'S NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER, BRAJESH MISHRA, HAS INDICATED 
EVEN THE SATURDAY DEADLINE MAYBE EXTENDED BY ANOTHER DAY IF ALL 
FIGHTERS CANNOT RETREAT BY THEN. PAKISTAN DENIES IT AGREED TO A 
TIME FRAME FOR THE EVACUATION.
MOST OF THE FIGHTERS HAVE ALREADY PULLED OUT.  AIR RECONNAISSANCE
MISSIONS ARE VERIFYING THE WITHDRAWAL.  HUNDREDS OF AERIAL 
PICTURES ARE BEING SCANNED TO SEE WHERE ENEMY FIGHTERS REMAIN.
UNDER THE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE INDIAN AND PAKISTANI MILITARY 
COMMANDERS, INDIAN TROOPS WILL ADVANCE TO WITHIN ONE KILOMETER OF
THE LINE OF CONTROL THAT DIVIDES KASHMIR BETWEEN INDIA AND 
PAKISTAN. THE GUERRILLAS ARE TO RETREAT INTO PAKISTANI TERRITORY 
BEYOND ONE KILOMETER OF THE FRONTIER.  AFTER THE WITHDRAWAL IS 
COMPLETE, DEFENSE OFFICIALS FROM THE TWO COUNTRIES WILL DISCUSS 
MEASURES TO AVOID FUTURE HOSTILITIES. 
THE FIGHTERS ARE DESTROYING ARMS, AMMUNITION AND SUPPLIES WHICH 
CANNOT BE CARRIED BACK.  INDIAN SOLDIERS MOVING INTO POSITIONS 
VACATED BY THE FIGHTERS SAY THE WELL-BUILT BUNKERS INDICATE 
PREPARATIONS FOR THE INTRUSION HAD BEEN MADE FOR SEVERAL MONTHS. 
THE INDIAN ARMY IS NOW PLANNING PERMANENT POSTS ON THE MOUNTAINS 
IN THE KARGIL REGION, WHERE THE FIGHTING TOOK PLACE. THESE POSTS 
WERE VACATED IN WINTER MONTHS WHEN THE PEAKS ARE COVERED BY UP TO
THREE METERS OF SNOW.
THE KASHMIR BORDER IS RELATIVELY QUIET.  BUT SNIPER FIRE KILLED 
ONE INDIAN SOLDIER AND SEVERAL ENEMY FIGHTERS THURSDAY. 
INDIAN SOLDIERS ARE STILL ON HIGH ALERT, AND SAY THEY ARE READY 
TO ATTACK GUERRILLAS WHO DO NOT LEAVE THE ICY PEAKS. (SIGNED)
NEB/AP/LTD/KL
16-Jul-99 9:36 AM EDT (1336 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.