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DATE=6/27/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-251159
TITLE=PAK/CHINA/KASHMIR (L)
BYLINE=AYAZ GUL
DATELINE=ISLAMABAD
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
INTRO:  PAKISTANI PRIME MINISTER NAWAZ SHARIF IS LEAVING 
ISLAMABAD (SUNDAY, 1900 GMT) FOR A WEEK-LONG VISIT TO CLOSE-ALLY 
CHINA, TO CONSULT CHINESE LEADERS ABOUT PAKISTAN'S CURRENT 
CONFLICT WITH INDIA OVER THE KASHMIR REGION.  AYAZ GUL REPORTS 
FROM ISLAMABAD.
TEXT:  PRIME MINISTER SHARIF'S VISIT TO CHINA IS PART OF 
PAKISTAN'S DIPLOMATIC EFFORTS TO END ITS MOST-SERIOUS MILITARY 
STANDOFF WITH INDIA IN 30-YEARS.
AN OFFICIAL PAKISTANI STATEMENT SAYS MR. SHARIF WILL INFORM 
CHINESE LEADERS THE DIALOGUE PROCESS WITH INDIA IS BEING DERAILED
BY WHAT IT SAYS IS INDIA'S MILITARY ACTION IN KASHMIR.
A PAKISTAN FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESMAN -- TARIQ ALTAF -- SAYS MR. 
SHARIF'S VISIT TO BEIJING IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR PAKISTAN AT A 
TIME WHEN TENSION ON ITS BORDER WITH INDIA IS GROWING.
                   /// TARIQ SPOKESMAN ACT ///
         THE PRIME MINISTER WOULD CERTAINLY BRIEF HIS CHINESE 
         GOVERNMENT AND THE CHINESE LEADERSHIP ON THE SITUATION 
         HERE, AND OUR POINT OF VIEW AND OUR DESIRE FOR 
         DE-ESCALATION AND MUTUAL RESPECT FOR THE LINE OF CONTROL
         (IN KASHMIR) BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES.  WE HAVE A 
         TRADITION OF CLOSE CONSULTATION AND COOPERATION, 
         PARTICULARLY IN TIMES OF STRESS.
                         /// END ACT ///
PAKISTANI OFFICIALS SAY MR. SHARIF'S TALKS IN BEIJING WILL HAVE A
"SPECIAL FOCUS" ON SECURITY, PEACE, AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN 
THE REGION.
THE ESCALATION BETWEEN INDIA AND PAKISTAN RESULTS FROM AN INDIAN 
MILITARY CAMPAIGN IN KASHMIR, WHICH NEW DELHI SAYS IS AIMED AT 
DISLODGING PAKISTANI-BACKED GUERRILLAS FROM KEY MOUNTAIN-HEIGHTS 
IN THE DISPUTED REGION.
THE PAKISTANI PRIME MINISTER'S VISIT TO CHINA IS TAKING PLACE 
AMID U-S-LED WESTERN PRESSURE ON PAKISTAN TO ENSURE THE 
GUERRILLAS' WITHDRAWAL.  PAKISTAN INSISTS IT HAS NO CONTROL OVER 
THE INSURGENTS AND THEY ARE KASHMIRI SEPARATISTS.
PAKISTAN IS SEEKING INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT FOR ITS DEMAND THE 
CRISIS OVER KASHMIR BE SETTLED THROUGH BILATERAL TALKS OR 
THIRD-PARTY MEDIATION, BUT INDIA OPPOSES INTERNATIONALIZING THE 
DISPUTE.  NEW DELHI ALSO HAS RULED OUT TALKS TO DEFUSE THE 
CURRENT CRISIS UNTIL THE INSURGENTS PULL BACK BEHIND "THE LINE OF
CONTROL" WHICH DIVIDES KASHMIR.
THE DISPUTE OVER KASHMIR HAS CAUSED TWO OF THE THREE WARS BETWEEN
INDIA AND PAKISTAN SINCE BOTH GAINED INDEPENDENCE FROM BRITAIN IN
1947.   (SIGNED)
NEB/AG/TMD/RAE
27-Jun-99 10:54 AM EDT (1454 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.