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DATE=7/10/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-251621
TITLE=PAK / KASHMIR / INDIA (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=AYAZ GUL
DATELINE=ISLAMABAD
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
INTRO:  THE PAKISTAN GOVERNMENT SAYS ISLAMIC MILITANTS FIGHTING 
IN INDIAN KASHMIR HAVE EXPRESSED A WILLINGNESS TO HELP RESOLVE 
THE CRISIS IN KASHMIR. THE GOVERNMENT MADE THE ANNOUNCEMENT AFTER
A CABINET MEETING SATURDAY.  BUT AYAZ GUL REPORTS FROM ISLAMABAD 
THAT A GROUP REPRESENTING THE KASHMIR MILITANTS VOWED ON SATURDAY
THAT THE MILITANTS WOULD REMAIN IN THE DISPUTED REGION.
TEXT:  IN A STATEMENT ISSUED AFTER THE CABINET MEETING, THE 
GOVERNMENT SAID ISLAMIC MILITANTS IN KASHMIR HAVE RESPONDED 
POSITIVELY TO THE GOVERNMENT'S APPEAL TO HELP DEFUSE THE CRISIS. 
THE GOVERNMENT'S APPEAL, ISSUED FRIDAY, STOPPED SHORT OF URGING 
THE MILITANTS TO WITHDRAW FROM INDIAN KASHMIR.  INSTEAD, IT ASKED
THEM TO "HELP RESOLVE" THE CRISIS. 
BUT AN UMBRELLA ORGANIZATION FOR THE MUSLIM GUERRILLAS -- THE 
MUTTAHIDA JIHAD COUNCIL -- HAS STRONGLY DENIED THEY HAVE AGREED 
TO THE GOVERNMENT'S APPEAL TO WITHDRAW FROM (THE KARGIL) INDIAN 
KASHMIR.
THE GUERRILLA GROUP, IN A STATEMENT ISSUED SHORTLY BEFORE THE 
GOVERNMENT'S, VOWED THE GUERRILLAS WILL CONTINUE TO FIGHT INDIAN 
RULE IN THE DISPUTED REGION.  ACCORDING TO THE STATEMENT, A 
WITHDRAWAL FROM THE STRATEGIC HEIGHTS (IN KARGIL) ON THE INDIAN 
SIDE WOULD BE DETRIMENTAL TO THE MILITANT'S CAMPAIGN AGAINST 
INDIAN RULE IN KASHMIR. 
PRIME MINISTER SHARIF MINISTER'S SHARIF'S POLITICAL OPPONENTS, 
ALONG WITH THE RELIGIOUS PARTIES, ARE CONDEMNING MR. SHARIF'S 
EFFORTS TO SEEK THE WITHDRAWAL OF THE GUERRILLAS FROM KASHMIR.  
THEY HAVE ACCUSED HIM OF TREASON AND ARE CALLING FOR HIS REMOVAL 
FROM OFFICE.  MR. SHARIF IS DUE TO ADDRESS THE PAKISTANI 
PARLIAMENT ON MONDAY, WHEN HE IS EXPECTED TO DEFEND HIS KASHMIR 
POICY. 
(OPT)  ISLAMABAD'S APPEAL TO THE MUJAHIDIN (HOLY WARRIORS) 
FOLLOWED A MEETING LAST SUNDAY IN  WASHINGTON BETWEEN PRIME 
MINISTER NAWAZ SHARIF AND PRESIDENT CLINTON IN WHICH THEY AGREED 
CONCRETE STEPS NEED TO BE TAKEN TO END THE CRISIS. THE TWO 
COUNTRIES HAVE FOUGHT THREE WARS, TWO OF THEM OVER KASHMIR. 
(SIGNED)
NEB/AG/KL
10-Jul-99 1:12 PM EDT (1712 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.