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DATE=6/3/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-250196
TITLE=PAK / KASHMIR (L)
BYLINE=SCOTT ANGER
DATELINE=ISLAMABAD
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO:  PAKISTAN HAS RELEASED A CAPTURED INDIAN FIGHTER PILOT TO 
THE RED CROSS, WHICH HAS TURNED HIM OVER TO INDIAN DIPLOMATS IN 
ISLAMABAD.  AS CORRESPONDENT SCOTT ANGER REPORTS, PAKISTAN'S 
PRIME MINISTER SAYS THE MOVE IS PART OF EFFORTS TO DEFUSE 
TENSIONS OVER THE DISPUTED REGION OF KASHMIR.
TEXT:  THE RELEASE OF THE CAPTURED INDIAN FIGHTER PILOT FOLLOWS 
PAKISTAN'S OFFER TO SEND ITS FOREIGN MINISTER TO NEW DELHI FOR 
TALKS. 
DURING A CROWDED NEWS CONFERENCE IN ISLAMABAD, PRIME MINISTER 
NAWAZ SHARIF SAID PAKISTAN AND INDIA NEED TO CONTINUE DIALOGUE TO
AVOID A MILITARY CONFRONTATION.
                    /// FIRST SHARIF ACT ///
         THE DIALOGUE PROCESS IS IN GRIEVOUS DANGER OF BEING 
         DERAILED.  SUCH A SITUATION WILL  NEITHER  BE IN THE 
         INTEREST OF INDIA  NOR  OF PAKISTAN.  THE URGENT 
         NECESSITY, THEREFORE, IS TO DEFUSE THE CURRENT 
         SITUATION.
                         /// END ACT ///
INDIAN AIR STRIKES CONTINUED FOR THE NINTH STRAIGHT DAY 
(THURSDAY), POUNDING MOUNTAIN-TOP POSITIONS HELD BY ARMED MUSLIM 
INSURGENTS ON THE INDIAN SIDE OF THE "LINE OF CONTROL" IN 
KASHMIR.
TWO WEEKS AGO, PAKISTAN SHOT DOWN TWO INDIAN "MIG" FIGHTER PLANES
AFTER THEY CROSSED INTO PAKISTANI AIRSPACE.  THE ONE PILOT WHO 
SURVIVED WAS CAPTURED, AND HAS NOW BEEN HANDED OVER TO INDIAN 
DIPLOMATS.  THE OTHER PILOT WAS KILLED.  HIS BODY WAS IMMEDIATELY
RETURNED TO INDIA.
THE TWO SOUTH ASIAN NUCLEAR POWERS FACE THEIR MOST SERIOUS 
STAND-OFF SINCE BOTH COUNTRIES TESTED NUCLEAR DEVICES LAST YEAR. 
PRIME MINISTER SHARIF SAYS HE HOPES THE SITUATION DOES  NOT  
ESCALATE AND THROW THE REGION INTO CONFLICT.
                    /// SECOND SHARIF ACT ///
         NUCLEAR POWERS SHOULD  NEVER  BE IN A STATE OF 
         CONFRONTATION.  WE WANT TO PREVENT ANY FURTHER 
         ESCALATION AND TO DEFUSE THE SITUATION.
                         /// END ACT ///
TO FURTHER EASE TENSIONS, PAKISTAN HAS PROPOSED SENDING ITS 
FOREIGN MINISTER (SARTAJ AZIZ) TO NEW DELHI NEXT MONDAY FOR 
TALKS.  INDIA HAS ACCEPTED PAKISTAN'S OFFER (FOR TALKS), BUT HAS 
NOT  AGREED ON THE DATE.   (SIGNED)
NEB/SA/PHW/WTW
03-Jun-99 4:00 PM EDT (2000 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.