DATE=7/9/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-251592
TITLE=PAK KASHMIR (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=SARAH HORNER
DATELINE=ISLAMABAD
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: PAKISTAN HAS ANNOUNCED IT WILL APPEAL TO ISLAMIC
MILITANTS FIGHTING IN INDIAN KASHMIR TO "HELP RESOLVE" THE CRISIS
THERE. BUT AS SARAH HORNER REPORTS FROM ISLAMABAD, THE
GOVERNMENT STOPPED SHORT OF URGING THE MILITANTS TO WITHDRAW FROM
INDIAN-CONTROLLED TERRITORY.
TEXT: AFTER MEETING FRIDAY (TODAY), PRIME MINISTER NAWAZ SHARIF
AND THE CABINET'S DEFENSE COMMITTEE SAID IN A STATEMENT THAT THEY
WOULD APPEAL TO THE MUJAHIDEEN TO -- AS THEY PUT IT -- "HELP
RESOLVE THE CURRENT SITUATION" IN (KARGIL) INDIAN KASHMIR.
THEY ALSO URGED THE MUJAHIDEEN FIGHTERS TO ALLOW THE WORLD
COMMUNITY TO PLAY ITS ROLE IN RESOLVING WHAT IT CALLS THE
LEGITIMATE ASPIRATIONS OF THE KASHMIRI PEOPLE.
THE STATEMENT COMES AFTER A MEETING SUNDAY IN WASHINGTON BETWEEN
PRIME MINISTER SHARIF AND PRESIDENT CLINTON IN WHICH THEY AGREED
THAT CONCRETE STEPS NEED TO BE TAKEN TO DEFUSE THE CRISIS.
IT WAS REPORTED THAT MR. SHARIF HAD AGREED DURING THOSE TALKS TO
WITHDRAW ISLAMIC MILITANTS FROM INDIAN KASHMIR.
THE PAKISTANI GOVERNMENT STATEMENT DID NOT, HOWEVER, CALL ON THE
MILITANTS TO WITHDRAW.
PAKISTAN HAS COME UNDER INTENSE INTERNATIONAL PRESSURE TO RESOLVE
THE CRISIS IN THE DISPUTED HIMALAYAN REGION OF KASHMIR, WHICH HAS
BROUGHT INDIA AND PAKISTAN TO THE VERGE OF AN ALL-OUT WAR.
INDIA SAYS PAKISTAN-BACKED GUERRILLAS HAVE BEEN FIGHTING INDIAN
TROOPS IN THE KARGIL SECTOR SINCE EARLY MAY. PAKISTAN SAYS THE
FIGHTERS ARE KASHMIRI INSURGENTS WHO RECEIVE ONLY MORAL SUPPORT
FROM PAKISTAN.
THE TWO NEIGHBORS HAVE ALREADY FOUGHT TWO WARS OVER KASHMIR.
INTERNATIONAL CONCERNS ARE HEIGHTENED OVER THE LATEST DISPUTE AS
BOTH INDIA AND PAKISTAN ARE NOW NUCLEAR POWERS. (SIGNED)
NEB/SLH/AG/RRM
09-Jul-99 9:42 AM EDT (1342 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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