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DATE=7/12/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-251684
TITLE=PAK / INDIA (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=AYAZ GUL
DATELINE=ISLAMABAD
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
INTRO:  WITH THE FIGHTING IN KASHMIR APPARENTLY OVER, PAKISTAN 
PRIME MINISTER NAWAZ SHARIF HAS CALLED FOR A SUMMIT WITH INDIAN 
PRIME MINISTER ATAL BEHARI VAJPAYEE TO IMPROVE RELATIONS AND 
AVERT THE DANGERS OF WAR. AYAZ GUL REPORTS FROM ISLAMABAD.
TEXT:  ADDRESSING HIS NATION ON TELEVISION (MONDAY), MR. SHARIF 
CALLED FOR A PEACEFUL SOLUTION OF THE KASHMIR DISPUTE WITH INDIA.
            //SHARIF ACT IN URDU, IN AND FADE UNDER//
PRIME MINISTER SHARIF SAYS IT IS IN THE INTEREST OF BOTH PAKISTAN
AND INDIA TO BEGIN PEACE TALKS TO SAVE THE PEOPLE OF THE TWO 
COUNTRIES FROM THE DANGERS OF WAR.
IN HIS SPEECH, MR. SHARIF ALSO DEFENDED HIS AGREEMENT WITH 
PRESIDENT CLINTON EARLIER THIS MONTH TO PERSUADE THE ISLAMIC 
GUERRILLAS TO LEAVE INDIAN KASHMIR, SAYING THE GUERRILLAS HAVE 
SUCCEEDED IN FOCUSING WORLD ATTENTION ON THE KASHMIR ISSUE.
THE PRIME MINISTER MAINTAINS, BY AGREEING TO WITHDRAW FROM THEIR 
POSITIONS, THE ISLAMIC GUERRILLAS HAVE CREATED A NEW OPPORTUNITY 
TO SOLVE THE KASHMIR DISPUTE THROUGH BILATERAL TALKS.
PAKISTAN'S OPPOSITION PARTIES AND SOME RELIGIOUS GROUPS HAVE 
CONDEMNED THE DEAL BETWEEN MR. SHARIF AND PRESIDENT CLINTON AS A 
BETRAYAL OF THE KASHMIR CAUSE.
BUT IN HIS NATIONWIDE ADDRESS, MR. SHARIF SAYS PRESIDENT CLINTON 
HAS PROMISED TO TAKE A PERSONAL INTEREST IN FINDING A SOLUTION TO
THE NEARLY 50-YEAR-OLD DISPUTE, WHICH HAS LED TO TWO WARS BETWEEN
INDIA AND PAKISTAN.
THE RECENT ROUND OF HOSTILITIES IN KASHMIR BEGAN IN EARLY MAY. 
INDIA SAYS HUNDREDS OF ISLAMIC GUERRILLAS, BACKED BY PAKISTANI 
TROOPS, SEIZED MOUNTAIN POSITION ON INDIAN SIDE OF KASHMIR. NEW 
DEHLI LAUNCHED AIR AND GROUND ATTACKS IN MAY TO EXPEL THE 
INVADERS FROM ITS TERRITORY.
PAKISTAN DENIES THAT ITS ARMY WAS INVOLVED IN THE CONFLICT. IT 
SAYS THE FIGHTERS ARE REBELS FIGHTING AGAINST THE INDIAN RULE IN 
KASHMIR.
SUNDAY, PAKISTAN AND INDIA AGREED ON A PLAN TO CEASE HOSTILITIES 
AND TO ALLOW THE INFILTRATORS TO PULL OUT FROM THEIR POSITIONS IN
INDIAN KASHMIR. THIS APPEARS TO HAVE DEFUSED THE WORST MILITARY 
STANDOFF BETWEEN THE TWO NATIONS IN THREE DECADES. (SIGNED)
NEB/AG/RRM
12-Jul-99 5:05 PM EDT (2105 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.