DATE=7/19/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-251908
TITLE=INDIA/KASHMIR (L-O)
BYLINE=ANJANA PASRICHA
DATELINE=NEW DELHI
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: INDIA SAYS ITS TROOPS WILL MAINTAIN A YEAR-ROUND PRESENCE
ON THE KASHMIR MOUNTAINS WHICH HAD BEEN CAPTURED BY ISLAMIC
FIGHTERS. ANJANA PASRICHA REPORTS FROM NEW DELHI, INDIA'S ARMY
CHIEF V-P MALIK VISITED KASHMIR (MONDAY) TO MEET INDIAN TROOPS.
THE ARMY HAS ALSO BEGUN FOCUSING ATTENTION ON HOW TO SECURE THESE
MOUNTAINS IN THE FUTURE.
TEXT: INDIA'S DEFENSE MINISTER, GEORGE FERNANDES, SAYS THE HIGH
MOUNTAINS WHERE INDIAN TROOPS BATTLED MUSLIM FIGHTERS WILL NOW BE
MANNED THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.
THIS INHOSPITABLE REGION HAS PEAKS UP TO FIVE-THOUSAND-METERS
HIGH. IT WAS USUALLY ABANDONED IN THE COLD WINTER MONTHS WHEN
TEMPERATURES FALL TO MINUS-60 DEGREES CELSIUS. BUT THIS YEAR,
ISLAMIC FIGHTERS MOVED IN JUST BEFORE SUMMER, WHEN THE SNOWS
BEGAN MELTING.
DEFENSE SPOKESMAN COLONEL BIKRAM SINGH SAYS THE ARMY IS BUILDING
PERMANENT POSTS TO PREVENT FURTHER INCURSIONS OF THIS NATURE.
/// INSERT SINGH ACT ///
WE ARE THINKING IN TERMS OF HOLDING CERTAIN POSITIONS.
WE ARE GOING TO HOLD CERTAIN FEATURES DURING WINTER TOO.
/// END SINGH ACT ///
ENGINEERS ARE BLASTING MOUNTAINSIDES, AND BUILDING TRACKS TO
STRATEGIC PEAKS THAT ARE BEING IDENTIFIED FOR YEAR-ROUND
PATROLLING. NEW BUNKERS WILL BE BUILT. THE GUERRILLAS DUG
DOZENS OF STONE BUNKERS IN THE AREA -- BUT INDIAN TROOPS SAY
THESE WILL HAVE TO BE REDESIGNED BECAUSE THEY FACE INDIAN
TERRITORY.
SUPPLYING TROOPS IN THE WINTER MONTHS WILL BE A MAJOR CHALLENGE.
HELICOPTERS CANNOT LAND IN THE DIFFICULT TERRAIN. SUPPLIES HAVE
TO BE CARRIED BY PORTERS OR PONIES -- AND TROOPS WILL HAVE TO BE
STOCKED BEFORE WINTER SETS IN.
THE ARMY IS ALSO PLANNING ELECTRONIC MONITORING, WHICH COULD
INCLUDE AIR RECONNAISSANCE, AND THE USE OF SATELLITES.
THE "PIONEER" NEWSPAPER ESTIMATES THE YEAR-ROUND VIGIL COULD COST
MORE THAN TWO-MILLION DOLLARS A DAY.
INDIA'S MILITARY OFFENSIVE WILL PUSH UP DEFENSE SPENDING IN OTHER
WAYS AS WELL. DEPLETED WEAPONS STOCKS HAVE TO BE REPLENISHED.
MODERNIZATION PROJECTS NEGLECTED SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THIS
DECADE WILL AGAIN TOP THE NATIONAL AGENDA.
DURING THE MILITARY OPERATION, THE ARMY SAID -- WE WILL FIGHT
WITH WHAT WE HAVE -- BUT COMMANDERS ARE PRESSING FOR BETTER
WEAPONS AND MORE EQUIPMENT DESIGNED FOR HIGH-ALTITUDE WARFARE.
INDIA SHARES A 74O-KILOMETER BORDER WITH PAKISTAN IN KASHMIR, BUT
THE FIGHTING WAS CONFINED TO A SERIES OF MOUNTAIN RIDGES ALONG
140-KILOMETERS. (SIGNED)
NEB/AP/LTD/RAE
19-Jul-99 7:44 AM EDT (1144 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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