DATE=6/23/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-250994
TITLE=PAK / KASHMIR (L)
BYLINE=SCOTT ANGER
DATELINE=ISLAMABAD
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: PAKISTAN SAYS INDIA HAS MOVED OFFENSIVE TROOPS AND
AIRCRAFT CLOSE TO ITS BORDER. AS CORRESPONDENT SCOTT ANGER
REPORTS, THE PAKISTANI MILITARY SAYS IT IS READY TO DEFEND ITSELF
IN THE EVENT OF A FULL-SCALE WAR WITH ITS NEIGHBOR.
TEXT: ALTHOUGH PAKISTAN'S ARMY SPOKESMAN RASHID QURESHI SAYS WAR
WITH INDIA IS NOT IMMINENT, HE DOES NOT RULE OUT WAR AS INDIA
CONTINUES TO BUILD UP ITS FORCES NEAR THE PAKISTANI BORDER.
///QURESHI ACT///
IF INDIA WANTS TO ESCALATE TO WAR, THAT IS THEIR
DECISION -- PAKISTAN WILL NOT BE SURPRISED. PAKISTAN
WILL BE IN A POSITION TO REACT.
///END ACT///
MR. QURESHI SAYS PAKISTAN'S ARMED FORCES ARE READY FOR WAR AND
HAVE TAKEN UP DEFENSIVE POSITIONS ALONG THE BORDER WITH INDIA.
ANTI-AIRCRAFT GUNS HAVE BEEN INSTALLED AT AIRPORTS THROUGHOUT
PAKISTAN, INCLUDING THE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT NEAR THE CAPITAL,
ISLAMABAD.
MEANWHILE, PAKISTAN SAYS CONSTANT FIRING ACROSS THE LINE OF
CONTROL BY INDIA CONTINUES TO CLAIM LIVES. THE MILITARY SAYS 76
PAKISTANI SOLDIERS AND OVER 50 CIVILIANS HAVE BEEN KILLED SINCE
THE CRISIS BEGAN IN EARLY MAY.
PAKISTAN'S FOREIGN MINISTRY SAYS AN OFFICER OF THE U-S MILITARY'S
CENTRAL COMMAND, GENERAL ANTHONY ZINNI, IS DUE TO ARRIVE IN
ISLAMABAD TO DISCUSS THE ESCALATION BETWEEN PAKISTAN AND INDIA
OVER KASHMIR. THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY, LED BY THE UNITED
STATES, HAS CALLED FOR A DE-ESCALATION IN THE CRISIS -- AND FOR
BOTH SIDES TO RETURN TO THE NEGOTIATING TABLE. (SIGNED)
NEB/SA/KL
23-Jun-99 10:45 AM EDT (1445 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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