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DATE=4/15/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-229676
TITLE=PAK / U-S / L
BYLINE=MEREDITH BUEL
DATELINE=ISLAMABAD
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
INTRO:  THE UNITED STATES AMBASSADOR TO THE UNITED NATIONS -- 
BILL RICHARDSON -- ARRIVES IN PAKISTAN LATE WEDNESDAY, WHERE HE 
IS EXPECTED TO RAISE CONCERNS ABOUT NUCLEAR AND MISSILE PROGRAMS 
IN SOUTH ASIA.  V-O-A ISLAMABAD CORRESPONDENT MEREDITH BUEL 
REPORTS.
TEXT:  U-N AMBASSADOR BILL RICHARDSON'S TRIP TO PAKISTAN IS 
DESIGNED TO PAVE THE WAY FOR A VISIT BY PRESIDENT CLINTON LATER 
THIS YEAR.
MR. RICHARDSON IS EXPECTED TO DISCUSS CONCERNS ABOUT PAKISTAN'S 
RECENT SUCCESSFUL TEST-FIRING OF A SURFACE-TO-SURFACE MISSILE.
ISLAMABAD SAYS THE MISSILE HAS A RANGE OF 15 HUNDRED KILOMETERS 
AND A PAYLOAD OF 700 KILOGRAMS.
THE AMBASSADOR IS ALSO LIKELY TO RAISE CONCERNS ABOUT PAKISTAN'S 
NUCLEAR PROGRAM.
IN 1990, THE U-S CONGRESS BANNED MOST MILITARY AND ECONOMIC AID 
TO PAKISTAN BECAUSE OF CONCERN THE COUNTRY HAS THE CAPABILITY OF 
MAKING WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION.
BECAUSE OF THE BAN, A DEAL ALLOWING PAKISTAN TO PURCHASE F-16 
WARPLANES IS FROZEN -- EVEN THROUGH ISLAMABAD HAS ALREADY PAID 
MORE THAN 650 MILLION DOLLARS FOR THE AIRCRAFT.
PAKISTAN IS THREATENING TO FILE A COURT CASE IN THE UNITED STATES
TO GET THE MONEY BACK.
THE U-S STATE DEPARTMENT HAS REPEATEDLY EXPRESSED CONCERNS ABOUT 
AN ARMS RACE IN SOUTH ASIA.
WHILE IN ISLAMABAD, AMBASSADOR RICHARDSON IS SCHEDULED TO MEET 
WITH PRIME MINISTER NAWAZ SHARIF AND FOREIGN MINISTER GOHAR AYUB 
KHAN.
HE IS EXPECTED TO URGE PAKISTANI OFFICIALS TO RESUME THEIR 
DIALOGUE WITH NEIGHBORING INDIA.
THOSE TALKS ARE STALLED BECAUSE OF THE DISPUTE OVER THE KASHMIR 
REGION.
INDIA AND PAKISTAN HAVE FOUGHT TWO WARS OVER KASHMIR.  TWO-THIRDS
OF THE HIMALYAN REGION IS CONTROLLED BY NEW DELHI AND ONE-THIRD 
BY ISLAMABAD.
THE PAKISTANI AND INDIAN ARMIES FREQUENTLY FIRE MACHINE GUNS AND 
MORTARS ACROSS THE LINE OF CONTROL IN KASHMIR AND MANY CIVILIANS 
AND SOLDIERS HAVE BEEN KILLED ON BOTH SIDES.
A STATEMENT RELEASED BY PAKISTAN'S FOREIGN MINISTRY SAYS THE  
TALKS WITH AMBASSADOR RICHARDSON WILL FOCUS ON KASHMIR, PEACE AND
SECURITY ISSUES AND AFGHANISTAN. (SIGNED)
NEB / MB / WD / WD
15-Apr-98 7:53 AM EDT (1153 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.