DATE=5/27/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-249886
TITLE=BHUTTO / PAKISTAN-INDIA (L)
BYLINE=JIM MALONE
DATELINE=WASHINGTON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: FORMER PAKISTANI PRIME MINISTER BENAZIR BHUTTO WARNS THE
ESCALATING FIGHTING BETWEEN PAKISTAN AND INDIA IN KASHMIR COULD
GET OUT OF HAND. MS. BHUTTO WAS INTERVIEWED AT V-O-A (THURSDAY)
IN WASHINGTON AND CORRESPONDENT JIM MALONE HAS A REPORT.
TEXT: FORMER PRIME MINISTER BHUTTO SAYS SHE IS IN WASHINGTON TO
DRAW ATTENTION TO THE HUMAN RIGHTS SITUATION IN PAKISTAN. BUT
SHE ALSO HAS CONCERNS ABOUT THE MILITARY SKIRMISHES BETWEEN INDIA
AND PAKISTAN OVER THE DISPUTED REGION OF KASHMIR.
/// 1ST BHUTTO ACT. ///
IT COULD ESCALATE. IT COULD GET OUT OF HAND. I HOPE IT
DOES NOT. BUT I THINK THAT THE LATEST ROUND OF
SKIRMISHES POINTS OUT TO INDIA AND PAKISTAN THE FAILURE
OF THE POLICIES OF THE LAST 50-YEARS. IT IS TIME NOW
FOR US TO ADOPT NEW POLICIES THAT CAN PREVENT THESE
KINDS OF SKIRMISHES THAT COULD ESCALATE.
/// END ACT. ///
INDIA SAYS IT LAUNCHED AIRSTRIKES INSIDE KASHMIR TO DISLODGE WHAT
IT CALLS INFILTRATORS BACKED BY PAKISTAN. MS. BHUTTO, A SHARP
CRITIC OF THE PAKISTANI GOVERNMENT, SAYS HER COUNTRY IS NOT
PROVIDING AID TO WHAT INDIA DESCRIBES AS ARMED INTRUDERS IN
KASHMIR.
/// 2ND BHUTTO ACT. ///
I DO NOT THINK PAKISTAN IS LENDING SUPPORT TO THE
INSURGENTS, BUT I THINK THERE IS A LOT OF PAKISTANI
SYMPATHY FOR THE KASHMIRIS. SO PAKISTAN IS BASICALLY
FEELING WHY SHOULD WE POLICE THIS AREA FOR THE INDIANS?
AND THAT OF COURSE GOES TO INDIA'S DETRIMENT AND IT GOES
TO THE HELP OF THE KASHMIRIS.
/// END ACT. ///
/// OPT /// MS. BHUTTO SAYS DOMESTIC POLITICAL REASONS ARE
PARTLY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CURRENT CRISIS BETWEEN THE TWO
COUNTRIES. AND SHE IS HOPEFUL THAT COOLER HEADS IN THE MILITARY
LEADERSHIP OF BOTH NATIONS WILL PREVAIL AND PREVENT A FURTHER
ESCALATION OF THE CONFLICT.
/// 3RD BHUTTO ACT. ///
UNFORTUNATELY, BOTH GOVERNMENTS ARE IN A LOT OF TROUBLE.
AND OFTEN, RHETORIC CAN HELP UNITE A NATION. SO I AM
CONCERNED AT THE SKIRMISHES BUT I ALSO BELIEVE THAT
NEITHER OF OUR TWO ARMED FORCES WOULD WANT A CONFLICT.
BUT YOU KNOW, IT COULD TURN OUT TO BE LIKE KOSOVO WHERE
WE WENT ON WARNING THE WORLD ABOUT A POWDER KEG AND
FINALLY IT EXPLODED. SO BEFORE IT EXPLODES, IT IS
IMPORTANT THAT THE WEST HELP PUT DEMOCRACY BACK ON TRACK
IN PAKISTAN AND THAT THE LEADERS OF INDIA AND PAKISTAN
REALIZE THAT THE REST OF THE WORLD IS NOT GOING TO BAIL
US OUT. WE HAVE TO MAKE THE INITIATIVES TOWARD BUILDING
PEACE IN THE REGION.
/// END ACT. ///
/// END OPT ///
AS FOR HER OWN POLITICAL SITUATION, THE FORMER PRIME MINISTER
SAYS SHE IS DELIGHTED WITH THE DECISION OF PAKISTAN'S SUPREME
COURT ALLOWING HER TO APPEAL LAST MONTH'S CONVICTION ON
CORRUPTION CHARGES.
MS. BHUTTO AND HER HUSBAND WERE CONVICTED OF RECEIVING MILLIONS
OF DOLLARS IN KICKBACKS FROM A SWISS TRADING COMPANY IN RETURN
FOR A GOVERNMENT CONTRACT. HER HUSBAND, ASIF ALI ZARDARI,
REMAINS IN PRISON.
MS. BHUTTO SAYS SHE HAS NO PLANS TO RETURN TO PAKISTAN UNTIL HER
SAFETY CAN BE ASSURED.
/// BHUTTO-MALONE ACT. ///
BHUTTO: I AM NOT PLANNING TO GO BACK RIGHT NOW AFTER
WHAT HAPPENED TO MY HUSBAND. NOT ONLY MY HUSBAND, EVEN
WHAT HAPPENED TO THE PRESS. THE CHAIN OF INCIDENTS,
UGLY. AND ONE HAS TO FIGHT AND I THINK I CAN FIGHT
BETTER FROM OUTSIDE.
MALONE: DO YOU FEEL SAFE?
BHUTTO: I DO NOT FEEL SAFE INSIDE (PAKISTAN) AND I
WORRY FOR ALL THOSE WHO ARE INSIDE AND OPPOSED TO THE
GOVERNMENT.
/// END ACT. ///
PAKISTAN'S SUPREME COURT SAYS MS. BHUTTO'S APPEAL CAN GO AHEAD
EVEN IF SHE REMAINS OUTSIDE THE COUNTRY. (SIGNED)
NEB/JBM/RAE
27-May-99 1:00 PM EDT (1700 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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