DATE=6/29/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-234737
TITLE=PAK U-S (L-UPDATE)
BYLINE=AYAZ GUL
DATELINE=ISLAMABAD
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: TWO U-S LAWMAKERS MET TOP PAKISTANI LEADERS (MONDAY) IN
ISLAMABAD TO DISCUSS ISSUES THAT HAVE RAISED TENSION IN SOUTH
ASIA FOLLOWING INDIAN AND PAKISTANI NUCLEAR TESTS. AS AYAZ GUL
REPORTS FROM ISLAMABAD, THE U-S DELEGATION'S VISIT COMES AHEAD OF
AN IMPORTANT SENATE REVIEW OF ECONOMIC SANCTIONS NEXT MONTH.
TEXT: AFTER VISITING INDIA SUNDAY, SENATOR SAM BROWNBACK AND
SENATOR CHARLES ROBB HELD EXTENSIVE TALKS WITH PAKISTANI PRIME
MINISTER NAWAZ SHARIF AND OTHER SENIOR OFFICIALS DURING A ONE-DAY
TRIP (MONDAY) TO PAKISTAN.
THE TWO U-S SENATORS ARE VISITING THE REGION FOLLOWING THE
FORMATION OF A SPECIAL CONGRESSIONAL TASK FORCE TO EXAMINE U-S
SANCTIONS POLICY. THE TASK FORCE IS EXPECTED TO SUBMIT ITS
REPORT ON SANCTIONS NEXT MONTH.
AT THE END OF THE VISIT, SENATOR BROWNBACK TOLD A NEWS CONFERENCE
THE PURPOSE OF MEETING INDIAN AND PAKISTANI LEADERS WAS TO START
A DIALOGUE TO EASE TENSION IN THE REGION AFTER THE NUCLEAR TESTS
BY THE TWO COUNTRIES.
// BROWNBACK ACT //
WE ARE HERE IN THIS DIALOGUE TO ENCOURAGE BOTH PAKISTAN
AND INDIA TO TAKE STEPS TO REDUCE TENSIONS IN THE
REGION. CERTAINLY EACH SIDE SHOULD DO EVERYTHING THEY
CAN TO NOT MAKE PROVOCATIVE ACTIONS OR STEPS TOWARDS
KASHMIR, WHICH HAS BEEN THE FLASH POINT IN THESE TWO
NATIONS FOR SOMETIME.
// END ACT //
KASHMIR IS A DISPUTED TERRITORY OVER WHICH INDIA AND PAKISTAN
HAVE FOUGHT TWO WARS, NEW DELHI CONTROLS TWO-THIRDS OF THE REGION
AND ISLAMABAD THE REST.
PAKISTAN WANTS INTERNATIONAL MEDIATORS TO SETTLE THE DISPUTE, BUT
INDIA REJECTS OUTSIDE INVOLVEMENT IN TALKS ON KASHMIR.
RECENTLY, THERE APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN AN INCREASE IN FIRING
BETWEEN INDIAN AND PAKISTANI SOLDIERS ALONG THE DISPUTED BORDER
IN KASHMIR. PAKISTAN HAS ACCUSED INDIA OF SHELLING BORDER
VILLAGES AND TARGETING CIVILIANS. NEW DELHI DENIES THE CHARGE.
THE TWO U-S SENATORS ALSO TOURED THE PAKISTANI SIDE OF KASHMIR.
SENATOR CHARLES ROBB SAYS A CEASEFIRE ON THE TROUBLED BORDER
WOULD BE A GOOD FIRST STEP TOWARD REDUCING THE TENSION BETWEEN
THE TWO NATIONS.
//ROBB ACT//
IT (KASHMIR) IS AN IMPORTANT ISSUE THAT OUGHT TO BE
RESOLVED, AND AGAIN I TAKE FROM IT MY OWN EXPERIENCE
TODAY THAT THERE IS A LOT OF SENSELESS KILLING AND
MAIMING GOING ON AND THE VICTIMS ARE CIVILIANS NOT
MILITARY. AND SOME SORT OF AT LEAST A CEASEFIRE OR
OTHER CONFIDENCE BUILDING MECHANISMS THAT MIGHT BE
INSTITUTED WOULD BE A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
// END ACT //
FEARS OF A NUCLEAR ARMS RACE IN SOUTH ASIA WERE RAISED IN MAY
WHEN INDIA CONDUCTED FIVE NUCLEAR TESTS, PROMPTING PAKISTAN TO
QUICKLY RESPONDED WITH SIX NUCLEAR EXPLOSIONS OF ITS OWN. THE
UNITED STATES IMPOSED PUNITIVE ECONOMIC SANCTIONS ON THE TWO
COUNTRIES FOLLOWING THE TESTS. (SIGNED)
NEB/AG/LTD/RAE
29-Jun-98 1:55 PM EDT (1755 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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