DATE=6/13/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-250594
TITLE=PAK/INDIA/KASHMIR (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=AYAZ GUL
DATELINE=ISLAMABAD
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: PAKISTAN PRIME MINISTER NAWAZ SHARIF HAS TELEPHONED
(SUNDAY) HIS INDIAN COUNTERPART IN AN EFFORT TO EASE GROWING
TENSIONS OVER THE DISPUTED REGION OF KASHMIR. AYAZ GUL REPORTS
FROM ISLAMABAD.
TEXT: AN OFFICIAL PAKISTANI STATEMENT SAYS MR. SHARIF URGED
INDIAN PRIME MINISTER -- ATAL BEHARI VAJPAYEE -- TO FIND MUTUALLY
ACCEPTABLE WAYS TO PREVENT THE REGION FROM DESCENDING INTO, WHAT
MR. SHARIF CALLS -- CHAOS AND CONFLAGRATION.
THE STATEMENT SAYS PRIME MINISTER SHARIF MADE THE TELEPHONE CALL
AFTER RECEIVING A BRIEFING FROM HIS FOREIGN MINISTER -- SARTAJ
AZIZ -- ON HIS MEETINGS IN NEW DELHI WITH INDIAN LEADERS. THE
MEETINGS WERE AIMED AT DEFUSING THE ESCALATION ON THE KASHMIR
BORDER, BUT THEY ENDED WITHOUT AGREEMENT. THIS HAS INCREASED
INTERNATIONAL FEARS OF A WIDER CONFLICT BETWEEN INDIA AND
PAKISTAN
MR. SHARIF TOLD THE INDIAN PRIME MINISTER THE CRISIS IN KASHMIR
NEEDS TO BE RESOLVED THROUGH DIALOGUE. HE SAYS BOTH INDIA AND
PAKISTAN SHOULD MAKE EVERY EFFORT FOR DE-ESCALATION AND RETURN OF
PEACE TO THE REGION.
TENSIONS HAVE INCREASED IN THE DISPUTED REGION OF KASHMIR SINCE
LATE LAST MONTH WHEN INDIA LAUNCHED AIR STRIKES TO DISLODGE WHAT
IT SAYS ARE HUNDREDS OF PAKISTANI-BACKED INFILTRATORS WHO HAVE
SEIZED KEY MOUNTAIN HEIGHTS IN INDIAN KASHMIR. PAKISTAN DENIES
INVOLVEMENT WITH THE INFILTRATORS
INDIA SAYS THE INFILTRATORS MUST WITHDRAW FROM INDIAN KASHMIR
BEFORE BEGINNING A DIALOGUE ON HOW TO EASE THE LATEST TENSION IN
KASHMIR.
MEANWHILE, PAKISTAN'S MILITARY IS ACCUSING INDIA OF USING
CHEMICAL SHELLS IN ARTILLERY ATTACKS ACROSS THE "LINE OF
CONTROL=94" DIVIDING KASHMIR. A MILITARY SPOKESMAN DESCRIBES THE
ALLEGED INDIAN ATTACKS ON PAKISTANI POSITIONS AS UNACCEPTABLE.
HE SAYS PAKISTAN RESERVES THE RIGHT TO RETALIATE.
INDIA HAS DENIED THE ACCUSATIONS ITS ARMY IS USING CHEMICAL
SHELLS.
PAKISTAN AND INDIA HAVE FOUGHT TWO WARS OVER KASHMIR AND THE
RECENT MILITARY CONFRONTATION IS THE MOST SERIOUS DEVELOPMENT IN
THE DISPUTED REGION FOR NEARLY 30-YEARS. (SIGNED)
NEB/AG/RAE
13-Jun-99 2:52 PM EDT (1852 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.
|
NEWSLETTER
|
|
Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list
|
|
|
