DATE=5/26/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-249822
TITLE=PAK / KASHMIR AIRSTRIKES (L)
BYLINE=SCOTT ANGER
DATELINE=ISLAMABAD
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: TENSION BETWEEN INDIA AND PAKISTAN HAS INCREASED AFTER
INDIA CONDUCTED AIRSTRIKES AGAINST SUSPECTED MILITANTS IN ITS
PART OF THE DISPUTED TERRITORY OF KASHMIR. AS CORRESPONDENT
SCOTT ANGER REPORTS, PAKISTAN SAYS THE INDIAN ACTION COULD LEAD
TO A DIRECT CONFLICT BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES.
TEXT: THE AIRSTRIKES BY INDIA AGAINST SUSPECTED MILITANTS IN
INDIAN KASHMIR ARE THE MOST SERIOUS DEVELOPMENT IN THE REGION
SINCE PAKISTAN AND INDIA EXPLODED NUCLEAR DEVICES LAST YEAR.
PAKISTAN'S MILITARY REMAINS ON HIGH ALERT FOLLOWING THE ATTACKS,
WHICH ARE TAKING PLACE JUST A FEW KILOMETERS ACROSS THEIR
DISPUTED BORDER WITH INDIA.
PAKISTAN SAYS BOMBS HAVE FALLEN ON ITS TERRITORY. MILITARY
SPOKESMAN RASHID QUERESHI SAYS THIS IS A SERIOUS VIOLATION AND
CANNOT BE IGNORED.
///QUERESHI ACT///
WE WILL RETALIATE, WE WILL TAKE COUNTER-MEASURES, WE
WILL TAKE ALL ACTIONS TO DEFEND OUR TERRITORY AND OUR
PEOPLE.
///END ACT///
INDIA SAYS IT HAS RECOVERED THE BODIES OF A NUMBER OF PAKISTANI
ARMY SOLDIERS, BUT MR. QUERESHI DENIES ANY PAKISTANI TROOPS HAVE
BEEN KILLED IN THE ATTACK. MR. QUERESHI DOES NOT RULE OUT AN
ESCALATION IN THE SITUATION. WHAT HAPPENS NEXT, HE SAYS, DEPENDS
COMPLETELY ON THE ACTIONS OF THE INDIAN MILITARY.
///QUERESHI ACT TWO///
IF THEY CONTINUE TO TAKE SUCH OFFENSIVE ACTIONS AND THEY
CONTINUE TO VIOLATE -- IN WHATEVER WAY -- EITHER THE
LAND OR THE AIRSPACE OF PAKISTAN, THEY MUST BE PREPARED
FOR A VIOLENT REACTION. AND SUCH THINGS COULD SNOW-BALL
(EXPAND) INTO A WIDER CONFLICT.
///END ACT///
PAKISTAN'S FOREIGN MINISTRY SAYS THE MILITARY ACTION UNDERSCORES
THE URGENCY IN FINDING A POLITICAL SOLUTION TO THE DISPUTE OVER
KASHMIR -- WHERE INDIA OCCUPIES TWO-THIRDS OF THE TERRITORY AND
PAKISTAN THE REST.
PAKISTAN AND INDIA HAVE FOUGHT TWO WARS OVER THE DIVIDED REGION
IN THE LAST 50 YEARS. INDIA CLAIMS PAKISTAN BACKS AN ARMED
MUSLIM INSURGENCY IN KASHMIR, A CHARGE PAKISTAN DENIES, SAYING IT
ONLY PROVIDES MORAL, POLITICAL AND DIPLOMATIC SUPPORT TO THE
FIGHTERS. (SIGNED)
NEB/SA/KL
26-May-99 10:49 AM EDT (1449 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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