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DATE=7/12/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-251656
TITLE=PAK/KASHMIR (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=AYAZ GUL
DATELINE=ISLAMABAD
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
INTRO:  THE TWO-MONTH HOSTILITIES IN THE DISPUTED KASHMIR REGION 
APPEAR TO BE NEARING AN END AFTER PAKISTAN AND INDIA AGREED ON A 
PLAN FOR THE ISLAMIC MILITANTS TO WITHDRAW FROM POSITIONS IN 
INDIAN KASHMIR. THE DE-ESCALATION COMES ONE-WEEK AFTER TALKS IN 
WASHINGTON BETWEEN PRIME MINISTER NAWAZ SHARIF AND PRESIDENT 
CLINTON, DURING WHICH THEY AGREED CONCRETE STEPS NEED TO BE TAKEN
TO DEFUSE THE CRISIS.  AYAZ GUL REPORTS FROM ISLAMABAD.
TEXT:  PAKISTANI AND INDIAN OFFICIALS SAY ISLAMIC GUERRILLAS HAVE
BEGUN TO WITHDRAW THEIR FORCES FROM STRATEGIC POSITIONS ON THE 
INDIAN SIDE OF KASHMIR. THE MOVE APPEARS TO HAVE DEFUSED THE 
WORST MILITARY SHOWDOWN BETWEEN INDIA AND PAKISTAN OVER KASHMIR 
IN 30-YEARS.
THE PAKISTANI GOVERNMENT BEGAN PERSUADING THE MILITANTS TO LEAVE 
INDIAN TERRITORY AFTER PRIME MINISTER SHARIF REPORTEDLY AGREED IN
TALKS  IN WASHINGTON A WEEK AGO WITH PRESIDENT CLINTON TO DO SO.
BUT PAKISTAN'S POLITICAL AS WELL AS RELIGIOUS PARTIES ARE 
CONDEMNING MR. SHARIF FOR AGREEING TO SEEK THE WITHDRAWAL OF 
ISLAMIC GUERRILLAS WHO HAVE BEEN FIGHTING INDIAN TROOPS IN THE 
REGION SINCE EARLY MAY.
THEY HAVE ACCUSED MR. SHARIF OF TREASON AND ARE CALLING FOR HIS 
REMOVAL FROM OFFICE.
THE ATTENTION IS NOW FOCUSING ON THE NATIONWIDE ADDRESS MR. 
SHARIF IS DUE TO DELIVER LATER TODAY (MONDAY, 1600GMT), WHEN HE 
IS EXPECTED TO DEFEND HIS KASHMIR POLICY.
MR. SHARIF IS LIKELY TO ARGUE THAT HIS EFFORTS TO PERSUADE 
ISLAMIC MILITANTS TO PULL-BACK FROM INDIAN KASHMIR HAVE AVOIDED A
FOURTH WAR WITH INDIA.
THE PAKISTANI PRIME MINISTER IS ALSO EXPECTED TO REITERATE 
PAKISTAN'S POSITION THAT IT NOW WANTS INDIA TO IMMEDIATELY ENGAGE
IN BILATERAL TALKS TO  RESOLVE THE 52-YEAR-OLD DISPUTE OVER 
KASHMIR.
PAKISTANI OFFICIALS SAY THEY EXPECT PRESIDENT CLINTON TO FULFILL 
HIS COMMITMENT TO TAKE A PERSONAL INTEREST TO ENSURE THE DIALOGUE
PROCESS IS REVIVED. (SIGNED)
NEB/AG/PLM
12-Jul-99 7:10 AM EDT (1110 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.