Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

DATE= 06/04/02

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE= INDIA PAK ASIA SUMMIT (L)

NUMBER=2-290480

BYLINE=LARRY JAMES

DATELINE=MOSCOW

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: Russian President Vladimir Putin says the dispute between India and Pakistan is destabilizing the entire sub-continent. His comments came during a meeting of leaders from 16 Asian nations in Almaty, Kazakhstan. Larry James has more from our Moscow Bureau.

TEXT: President Putin describes relations between the two nuclear-armed neighbors as "explosive." He told delegates at the Asian summit the current situation is a cause of deep concern.

He has been urging the two leader to meet, face-to-face, to defuse the crisis.

Earlier, India and Pakistan again blamed each other for the tension.

In a speech to the conference, Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee accused Pakistan of reneging on its promises to curb cross-border raids by Islamic militants entering the Indian-controlled part of the disputed Kashmir region.

He says the Pakistani president promised in January no terrorist group would be allowed to use Pakistani territory. But, Mr. Vajpayee says cross-border infiltration increased in the following months and terrorist camps continue to exist in Pakistan.

The Indian leader says New Delhi remains ready to hold talks with Islamabad to resolve all outstanding issues, including the Kashmir dispute. However, he says curbing terrorism is a pre-condition to dialogue.

Pakistani President Musharraf says the people of South Asia continue to pay a heavy price for what he calls India's refusal to resolve the Kashmir issue. Mr. Musharraf says the Kashmir dispute must be resolved in accordance with U-N resolutions and the wishes of the Kashmiri people.

The two countries have massed one million troops along their border since a December attack on the Indian parliament which New Delhi blames on Pakistan-based militants fighting for control of Indian-ruled Kashmir.

Meanwhile, intense diplomatic efforts are continuing to persuade India and Pakistan to pull back from the brink of war.

The United States is sending two high-level envoys to meet the Indian and Pakistani leaders. Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage is to expected in the region shortly. U-S Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld is expected in New Delhi Sunday.

Mr. Armitage has said the international community is "trying to do its best to bring reason and logic to bear on what is a very difficult situation."

U-N Secretary General Kofi Annan will meet with Russian President Putin here in the Russian capital, later this week, to discuss the situation.

NEB/LDJ/WD