DATE=4/7/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-229305
TITLE=INDIA MISSILES (L)
BYLINE=DOUGLAS BAKSHIAN
DATELINE=NEW DELHI
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: INDIA SAYS PAKISTAN'S TEST LAUNCH OF A MEDIUM-RANGE
MISSILE IS NOT UNEXPECTED AND DOES NOT BRING THE NATIONS
CLOSER TO CONFLICT. NEW DELHI CORRESPONDENT DOUGLAS BAKSHIAN
REPORTS.
TEXT: DEFENSE MINISTER GEORGE FERNANDES SAYS INDIA IS CAPABLE OF
MEETING ANY (STRATEGIC) CHALLENGE FROM PAKISTAN. HE SAYS NOBODY
IN INDIA SHOULD WORRY ABOUT THEIR COUNTRY'S CAPABILITY.
INDIAN NEWS AGENCIES QUOTE MR. FERNANDES AS SAYING THERE IS NO
PART OF PAKISTAN THAT IS OUT OF INDIAN MISSILE RANGE. BUT, HE
TOLD REPORTERS (MONDAY) IN NEW DELHI HE DOES NOT BELIEVE THE
COUNTRIES ARE CLOSER TO A WAR-LIKE SITUATION, FOLLOWING THE
PAKISTANI MISSILE TEST.
MONDAY, ISLAMABAD ANNOUNCED IT TEST FIRED A MISSILE WITH A RANGE
OF 15-HUNDRED KILOMETERS. PAKISTAN'S FOREIGN MINISTRY SAYS THE
WEAPON IS INTENDED TO COUNTER INDIA'S "AGNI" MISSILE, WHICH HAS A
SIMILAR RANGE.
A SPOKESMAN FOR INDIA'S FOREIGN MINISTRY SAYS THE TEST IS FURTHER
EVIDENCE PAKISTAN HAS BEEN SECRETLY BUILDING UP ITS MISSILE
PROGRAM.
// SPOKESMAN ACT //
WE HAVE TAKEN NOTE OF THIS DEVELOPMENT. THE NEWS ONLY
CONFIRMS WHAT WE HAVE ALWAYS MAINTAINED ABOUT THE
CLANDESTINE ACQUISITION OF MISSILES AND MISSILE
TECHNOLOGY BY PAKISTAN.
// END ACT //
THE SPOKESMAN DID NOT ELABORATE, BUT INDIA ACCUSES CHINA OF
SUPPLYING MISSILE TECHNOLOGY TO PAKISTAN. CHINA DENIES THE
CHARGE.
THE STATE DEPARTMENT (MONDAY) HAS APPEALED FOR BOTH PAKISTAN AND
INDIA TO EXERCISE RESTRAINT IN THEIR WEAPONS PROGRAMS. THE STATE
DEPARTMENT SAYS DEVELOPMENT OF MISSILES WILL BE DESTABILIZING IN
THE REGION. PAKISTAN AND INDIA HAVE FOUGHT THREE WARS AND BOTH
HAVE A NUCLEAR CAPABILITY. (SIGNED)
NEB/RAE
07-Apr-98 4:31 AM EDT (0831 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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