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DATE=4/11/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-247905
TITLE=PAK /  INDIA REACT (L)
BYLINE=SCOTT ANGER
DATELINE=ISLAMABAD
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
INTRO:  INDIA'S TEST FLIGHT SUNDAY OF A NUCLEAR-CAPABLE MISSILE 
HAS RAISED CONCERNS THAT RIVAL NEIGHBOR PAKISTAN, MAY CONDUCT A 
SIMILAR TEST IN RESPONSE.  CORRESPONDENT SCOTT ANGER REPORTS FROM
THE PAKISTANI CAPITAL.
TEXT:  PAKISTAN SAYS IT WILL DECIDE WITHIN THE NEXT FEW DAYS HOW 
IT WILL RESPOND TO INDIA'S SUCCESSFUL TEST FIRING OF ITS 
"AGNI-TWO" MISSILE. 
ISLAMABAD HAS MAINTAINED THAT IF NEW DELHI CONDUCTED ANY MISSILE 
TESTS -- IT TOO WOULD HAVE TO TEST ITS UPGRADED MISSILE -- WHICH 
IS CAPABLE OF CARRYING A NUCLEAR WARHEAD AS WELL.  PAKISTAN HAS 
ALREADY SUCCESSFULLY TESTED THE "GHAURI" MISSILE, WHICH HAS A 
RANGE OF 15-HUNDRED KILOMETERS.
PAKISTAN'S FOREIGN MINISTER SARTAJ AZIZ SAYS THE DEVELOPMENT OF 
THE AGNI-TWO MISSILE THREATENS SECURITY IN THE REGION.
                        /// AZIZ ACT ///
         THIS TEST INTRODUCES A NEW WEAPON SYSTEM IN THE 
         SUB-CONTINENT, WHICH IS NATURALLY A MATTER OF CONCERN 
         FOR US.  WE HAD PROPOSED A RESTRAINT REGIME TO INDIA 
         WHEN WE HAD MET IN OCTOBER AND THEN LATER ON IN LAHORE. 
         THIS IS NOT IN LINE WITH THAT RESTRAINT REGIME.
                         /// END ACT ///
INDIA AND PAKISTAN HAVE HELD A SERIES OF TALKS AIMED AT DIFFUSING
TENSIONS IN THE REGION, AFTER BOTH CONDUCTED BACK-TO-BACK NUCLEAR
TESTS LAST MAY.
INDIAN'S HIGH COMMISSIONER IN PAKISTAN, PARTHA SARTHI, SAYS INDIA
GAVE ADVANCE NOTICE ABOUT THE MISSILE TEST IN ACCORDANCE WITH 
RECENT AGREEMENTS REACHED BETWEEN THE RIVAL NATIONS.
                       /// SARTHI ACT ///
         WE HAVE INTIMATED THIS IN ADVANCE, IT IS COMPLETELY 
         TRANSPARENT WITH NO SURPRISES.  I WOULD LIKE TO STRESS 
         THIS IS ENTIRELY KEEPING WITH THE LETTER AND SPIRIT OF 
         THE DOCUMENTS SIGNED IN LAHORE (LAHORE DECLARATION).  I 
         WOULD LIKE TO STRESS IN DISCUSSIONS WE ARE HAVING WITH 
         THE PAKISTANI GOVERNMENT, WE LOOK FORWARD TO CARRYING 
         THE PROCESS FORWARD.
                         /// END ACT ///
LAST FEBRUARY, INDIAN PRIME MINISTER ATAL BEHARI VAJPAYEE MADE A 
HISTORIC TRIP TO LAHORE TO MEET WITH PAKISTANI PRIME MINISTER 
NAWAZ SHARIF TO DISCUSS REGIONAL STABILITY.  DURING THE MEETINGS,
THE TWO AGREED TO WARN EACH OTHER BEFORE CONDUCTING ANY MISSILE 
TESTS. 
INDIA AND PAKISTAN HAVE FOUGHT THREE WARS IN THE PAST 50-YEARS --
MOST RECENTLY IN 1971.  (SIGNED)
NEB/SA/RAE
11-Apr-99 9:30 AM EDT (1330 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.