Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

DATE=07/15/01

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

NUMBER=2-278242

TITLE= INDIA / PAKISTAN / SUMMIT (L)

BYLINE=JIM TEEPLE

DATELINE= AGRA

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: A summit meeting between the leaders of South Asian rivals India and Pakistan is underway in the northern Indian city of Agra. There is no set agenda, but the disputed territory of Kashmir is expected to dominate the discussions. V-O-A's Jim Teeple reports that while both sides are playing down expectations for the summit, early summit-related meetings have been cordial.

TEXT: Meeting at a luxury hotel overlooking the legendary Taj Mahal, Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee and Pakistan's President, General Pervez Musharraf are expected to address the contentious issue of Kashmir. Both countries claim the entire region, and their dispute has caused two of the three wars they have fought over the past 50 years.

At most of his public appearances, General Musharraf emphasized Pakistan's position that Kashmir is the "core issue" of the summit. Speaking at an official state dinner late Saturday General Musharraf said both countries must put aside their past animosity and address their common enemy--massive poverty.

/// MUSHARRAF ACTUALITY ///

We owe it our future generations to our utmost to open a new chapter of

good will and cooperation. We must not allow the past to dictate the

future. Our Nuclear status imposes new responsibilities on us. We must

overcome the burden of history and as other nations have done it, we

must also do so.

/// END ACTUALITY ///

Indian officials counter General Musharraf's emphasis on Kashmir by saying they want to discuss a broad agenda of other issues, including nuclear safeguards, trade issues and also perhaps the stalemate over the Siachan glacier where the two countries have armies facing each other at an altitude of six thousand meters.

Indian officials say that for them, the core issue on Kashmir is what they call "cross-border terrorism". Early reports indicate that meetings between the Indian and Pakistani delegations have been cordial. Talks between the two heads of state are likely to continue through Monday. (Signed)

NEB/JLT/PFH