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DATE=4/14/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-248076
TITLE=U-S/PAKISTAN (L)
BYLINE=DAVID GOLLUST
DATELINE=WHITE HOUSE
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
INTRO:  THE UNITED STATES HAS EXPRESSED DISAPPOINTMENT IN THE 
MEDIUM-RANGE MISSILE TESTS BY INDIA AND PAKISTAN, BUT WHITE HOUSE
OFFICIALS NOTE THE TWO COUNTRIES HAD -- AT LEAST -- INFORMED EACH
OTHER OF THEIR INTENTIONS.  CORRESPONDENT DAVID GOLLUST REPORTS 
FROM THE WHITE HOUSE.
TEXT:  WHITE HOUSE SPOKESMAN JOE LOCKHART SAYS THE UNITED STATES 
IS DISAPPOINTED BY THE -- DUELING MISSILE -- TESTS BY THE SOUTH 
ASIAN POWERS, WHICH HE SAID DO NOTHING TO PROMOTE GREATER 
COOPERATION AND UNDERSTANDING IN THE REGION.
MR. LOCKHART SPOKE TO REPORTERS AFTER PAKISTAN ANNOUNCED IT HAD 
TEST-FIRED ITS MEDIUM-RANGE "GUARI-TWO" BALLISTIC MISSILE IN 
RESPONSE TO INDIA'S TEST ON SUNDAY OF ITS SIMILAR "AGNI-TWO" 
MISSILE.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID THAT AS OPPOSED TO LAST YEAR'S SURPRISE 
NUCLEAR TEST SERIES BY BOTH COUNTRIES, INDIA AND PAKISTAN HAD 
NOTIFIED THE UNITED STATES -- AND EACH OTHER -- OF THEIR 
MISSILE-TEST INTENTIONS.
MR. LOCKHART SAID THE MUTUAL NOTIFICATION WAS IN ACCORDANCE WITH 
THE CONFIDENCE-BUILDING AGREEMENT THE PRIME MINISTERS OF THE TWO 
COUNTRIES CONCLUDED IN LAHORE FEBRUARY 21ST.  BUT HE MADE CLEAR 
THE UNITED STATES IS UNHAPPY THEY WENT FORWARD WITH THE TESTING 
AT ALL.
AT A SENATE HEARING, ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE FOR SOUTH ASIA 
KARL INDERFURTH APPEALED FOR RESTRAINT BY BOTH SIDES.  HE NOTED 
THAT IN THE CASE OF THE MISSILE TESTS -- AND THE TWO COUNTRIES' 
NUCLEAR TEST SERIES LAST YEAR -- THE FIRST MOVE HAD BEEN MADE BY 
INDIA:
                  /// INDERFURTH ACTUALITY /// 
         WE BELIEVE INDIA HAS A SPECIAL RESPONSIBILITY IN THIS 
         REGARD.  CLEARLY PAKISTAN IS RESPONDING TO INDIAN 
         ACTIONS -- NOT ONLY IN TERMS OF THE MISSILE TEST, BUT 
         LAST MAY IN TERMS OF THE NUCLEAR TESTS.  PERHAPS 
         PAKISTAN WOULD ALSO RESPOND TO POSITIVE STEPS TAKEN BY 
         INDIA.  AND THEREFORE WE URGE THEM TO TAKE THOSE STEPS 
         AT THE EARLIEST OPPORTUNITY.
                         /// END ACT ///
MR. INDERFURTH SAID BOTH SIDES HAVE SAID THEY WANT TO MEET THEIR 
SECURITY REQUIREMENTS AT THE LOWEST POSSIBLE LEVELS, AND THE 
UNITED STATES WOULD LIKE TO SEE "POSITIVE STEPS" FROM BOTH 
COUNTRIES THAT THEY INTEND TO DO SO.
THE UNITED STATES WELCOMED THE LAHORE AGREEMENT, UNDER WHICH 
INDIA AND PAKISTAN AGREED TO EXCHANGES OF INFORMATION ON MISSILE 
TESTS AND OTHER STRATEGIC ISSUES IN AN EFFORT TO REDUCE THE RISK 
OF NUCLEAR WAR.  THEY ALSO AGREED TO INTENSIFY EFFORTS TO RESOLVE
DISPUTES, INCLUDING KASHMIR.   (SIGNED)
NEB/DAG/RAE
14-Apr-99 12:23 PM EDT (1623 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.