DATE=6/10/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-250467
TITLE=PAK / KASHMIR TALKS / L
BYLINE=SCOTT ANGER
DATELINE=ISLAMABAD (CQ)
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: PAKISTAN'S FOREIGN MINISTER LEAVES FOR A VISIT TO CHINA
BEFORE GOING TO INDIA FOR TALKS AIMED AT EASING THE GROWING
TENSIONS WITH INDIA IN KASHMIR. AS SCOTT ANGER REPORTS,
PAKISTAN'S NATIONAL ASSEMBLY HAS PASSED A LIST OF RESOLUTIONS
SUPPORTING THE NEW DELHI MEETING AND CONDEMNING INDIAN VIOLATIONS
OF PAKISTANI TERRITORY.
TEXT: HOURS BEFORE PAKISTAN'S FOREIGN MINISTER SARTAJ AZIZ WAS
TO LEAVE FOR BEIJING, PAKISTAN'S NATIONAL ASSEMBLY UNANIMOUSLY
PASSED RESOLUTIONS CONDEMNING INDIA FOR VIOLATIONS OF THE LINE OF
CONTROL IN KASHMIR.
THE ASSEMBLY ALSO EXPRESSED SUPPORT FOR THE FOREIGN MINISTER'S
VISIT SATURDAY TO NEW DELHI FOR TALKS WITH HIS INDIAN COUNTERPART
ON TENSIONS OVER THE DISPUTED HIMALAYAN REGION.
ALTHOUGH THERE ARE NO PRECONDITIONS FOR THE INDO-PAK TALKS, BOTH
SIDES ARE AT ODDS OVER THE DIRECTION THE MEETING WILL TAKE.
INDIA SAYS THE DISCUSSIONS WILL CENTER ON THE WITHDRAWAL OF ARMED
MUSLIM INSURGENTS FROM ITS SIDE OF THE BORDER. PAKISTAN SAYS
TENSIONS BETWEEN THE NUCLEAR NEIGHBORS CAN ONLY DE-ESCALATE IF
THE CORE ISSUE OF KASHMIR IS RESOLVED.
FOREIGN MINISTER AZIZ WILL MEET WITH CHINESE FOREIGN AFFAIRS
MINISTER TANG JIAXUAN FRIDAY -- REPORTEDLY TO BRIEF HIM ON THE
SITUATION BETWEEN PAKISTAN AND INDIA ALONG THE LINE OF CONTROL.
CHINA -- WHICH BORDERS BOTH PAKISTAN AND INDIA -- HAS BEEN A
LONGTIME ALLY OF PAKISTAN. IN 1962, CHINA FOUGHT A BRIEF BORDER
WAR WITH INDIA. NEW DELHI SAYS CHINA ILLEGALLY OCCUPIES A SMALL
PART OF NORTHERN KASHMIR.
A MILITARY DELEGATION FROM CHINA IS IN PAKISTAN AND HAS HELD
TALKS WITH MILITARY LEADERS AND THE PRESIDENT.
LATER THIS MONTH, PAKISTAN SAYS PRIME MINISTER NAWAZ SHARIF WILL
SPEND A WEEK IN CHINA TO DISCUSS BILATERAL RELATIONS WITH THE
CHINESE LEADERSHIP. (SIGNED)
NEB / SA / WD / WD
10-Jun-99 10:48 AM EDT (1448 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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