Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

DATE=07/04/01

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

NUMBER=2-277910

TITLE= PAK/INDIA ACTIVIST (L-UPDATE)

DATELINE=ISLAMABAD

BYLINE=JON TKACH

VOICED AT=

CONTENT=

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INTRO: Pakistan's military government has released an Indian peace activist, who was arrested earlier this year when he entered the country from Afghanistan by bicycle. The government called the activist's release a goodwill gesture ahead of next week's summit with India. V-O-A's Jon Tkach (pron: KOTCH) reports from Islamabad.

TEXT: Vikas Singh was arrested in the northern town of Peshawar for entering Pakistan without a visa, and was sentenced to three years in prison.

But on Wednesday, military leader General Musharraf ordered the activist's release, just a week ahead of an historic trip to India aimed at resolving the dispute over Kashmir.

The military government's main spokesman, Major General Rashid Qureshi, says the case just recently

came to the general's attention.

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And he thought it would be a gesture of goodwill and would better improve the atmosphere for talks between

India and Pakistan.

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Indian and Pakistani news media reported on Mr. Singh's case as the July 14th summit

grew closer, and there were calls from both sides of the border for his release.

General Musharraf has repeatedly called for a toning down of the rhetoric between India and Pakistan ahead

of the talks over Kashmir, and both sides have said they are optimistic about the summit.

But neither Pakistan nor India, which both claim the mountainous region of Kashmir, has hinted that it is

willing to give much ground in the dispute.

The rivals have fought two full-blown wars over Kashmir, and their last dialogue was scuttled in 1999,

when intense border fighting broke out there, taking them again to the brink of war. (signed)

NEB/JON/TDW