Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

DATE= 10/18/02

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=KASHMIR / L-ONLY

NUMBER=2-295389

BYLINE=JIM TEEPLE

DATELINE=NEW DELHI

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: Indias government has assumed direct control over the

administration of Indias state of Jammu and Kashmir. The move follows

the resignation of the states chief minister, and the inability of

parties in the state to form a coalition government, following

state-assembly elections. V-O-As Jim Teeple has details from our New

Delhi bureau.

TEXT: Governor Girish Saxena imposed Governors rule on the state of

Jammu and Kashmir after Chief Minister Farouk Abdullah said he would no

longer continue to head a caretaker government in the state.

Political parties have been wrangling over who will head a coalition

government in Jammu and Kashmir for over a week -- following state

assembly elections that saw Mr. Abdullahs party, the National

Conference lose its majority in the state assembly. An angry Mr.

Abudllah told reporters in Srinagar, the summer capital of the state,

that he no longer feels responsible for running the Jammu and Kashmir government -- now that voters have rejected the National Conference.

/// ABDULLAH ACTUALITY ///

Let somebody else take these tragedies of the future. Why should I only

be the one to receive the boot from you, and from the rest of the

people. What for? Have you ever seen a newspaper write good things

about us? Did we ever see them say that we have done something good.

Did your media ever say any of the good things that we have done? No.

/// END ACTUALITY ///

Mr. Abdullahs National Conference emerged from the state assembly

elections with the most seats in the 87-seat state assembly, but unable

to form a majority. Two other parties, the Congress Party and the

Peoples Democratic Party, have been holding talks on forming a

government, but have been unable to agree on who will become the states

new chief minister.

The political deadlock in Indian Kashmir comes just as tensions between

India and Pakistan appear to be easing. Earlier this week both countries

announced significant troop withdrawals from their common international

border. The two nuclear-neighbors have been in a tense standoff for

months. India accuses Pakistan of helping separatist militants in

Kashmir a charge Islamabad denies. (Signed)

NEB/JLT/FC