Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

DATE=08/07/01

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

NUMBER=2-279049

TITLE= INDIA / PAKISTAN / L

BYLINE=JIM TEEPLE

DATELINE= NEW DELHI

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: India's Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee has given his most

lengthy statement to date on last month's Agra Summit between New Delhi

and Islamabad. As V-O-A's Jim Teeple reports from New Delhi, Mr. Vajpayee

says Pakistan must stop what he describes as "cross-border terrorism"

before relations can improve between the two countries.

TEXT: In what is being called by his aides as Prime Minister Atal

Behari Vajpayee's final comment on the Agra Summit, Mr. Vajpayee lashed

out at Pakistani President General Pervez Musharraf, saying the Pakistani

leader is to blame for the lack of any progress in Agra.

The two men held a series of meetings last month at a hotel overlooking

the Taj Mahal, in the historic Indian city. The summit ended in acrimony

after neither side could reach agreement on language to be included in a

joint statement. At the core of their disagreement was language over

the territory of Kashmir, which both countries claim in its entirety.

Speaking in uncharacteristically blunt language before parliament, Mr.

Vajpayee said General Musharraf had little understanding of history and

ignored long-established diplomatic protocols between the two countries,

during his two days in Agra. Mr. Vajpayee said he could have

reached an agreement with Pakistan, had former Prime Minister Nawaz

Sharif been in Agra. Mr. Sharif was ousted in a military coup in late

1999 -- six months after holding a summit with Mr. Vajpayee in the

Pakistani city, Lahore.

Mr. Vajpayee strongly criticized Pakistan for what he called its

continued sponsorship of what he describes as "cross-border terrorism"

in the territory of Kashmir. Mr. Vajpayee said Islamabad's sponsorship of "jehadi's" or

Islamic militants in Kashmir must come to an end and that India is determined to see that it does.

// VAJPAYEE ACTUALITY //

This must be clear, from the history of the last 53 years, what

Pakistan's Army has failed to secure in full-fledged battle, the

jehadi's cannot hope to achieve in the hit and run tactics.

// END ACTUALITY //

Pakistan strongly denies supplying Kashmir separatists with anything more

than diplomatic and moral support. More than 35 thousand people have

died in India's Jammu and Kashmir State, over the past decade, in a

separatist insurgency. New Delhi controls two-thirds of the territory

and Islamabad one-third.

Speaking with rare emotion, Mr. Vajpayee said Indians regard Kashmir "as

part of their hearts," while Pakistani's consider it a mere "piece of

territory." Mr. Vajpayee described as "delusional" any suggestion

the estimated 350 thousand India security personnel in

Kashmir were demoralized or weakened by the continuing insurgency.

India's prime minister said it is becoming increasingly difficult

to resolve the issue of Kashmir, while innocent people are being

slaughtered in the state. Since the Agra Summit, killings have escalated

in Kashmir. Last week, 15 Hindu shepherds where shot to death in a

remote part of the state. Police Tuesday announced they

had killed the Islamic militant they say is responsible for the

killings. They also warn more attacks could come at any time. (Signed)

neb/jlt/wd