DATE=8/10/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=PAKISTAN - INDIA (L)
NUMBER=2-252657
BYLINE=AYAZ GUL
DATELINE=ISLAMABAD
INTERNET=YES
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: Indian fighter jets have shot down a Pakistan
naval patrol aircraft, killing all 16 people on board.
Islamabad, which says the plane was over Pakistani
territory on a routine patrol, has condemned the
incident as "unprovoked aggression." New Delhi says
the plane was shot down over Indian air space. Ayaz
Gul reports from Islamabad, the incident is the most
serious confrontation between the two countries since
they stopped fighting in Kashmir last month.
TEXT: India says the Pakistani anti-submarine plane
(a French-built Atlantique) was over Indian territory
and failed to respond to warnings before it was shot
down.
But Pakistan's Foreign Minister Sartaj Aziz says the
unarmed plane was on a routine surveillance mission,
well within its territory, off the coast of the
southern city of Karachi. The foreign minister warned
Pakistan could respond to what he called a blatant and
unprovoked act by India.
/// AZIZ ACT ///
After a search of several hours the wreckage of
the aircraft was found two miles (more than
three kilometers) inside Pakistan territory.
The responsibility for this wanton and cowardly
act, as well as its consequences, rests squarely
with India. Pakistan reserves the right to make
an appropriate response in self-defense.
/// END ACT ///
The Foreign Minister says among those killed were five
Pakistan navy officers. Mr. Aziz says Pakistan has
sent letters to the United Nations Security Council
and its five permanent members, calling their
attention to what Pakistan says was unprovoked Indian
military aggression against an unarmed plane.
India says the Pakistani plane flew 10 kilometers
inside Indian territory, and it had no option but to
shoot down the aircraft.
The Indian ambassador in Islamabad was summoned to the
Pakistani Foreign Ministry, and a protest has been
lodged with him.
This is the most serious incident since India and
Pakistan ceased fighting over the disputed territory
of Kashmir last month. The two-month conflict had
raised fears of a full-scale war between the two rival
countries, which conducted nuclear tests last year.
Meanwhile, Pakistan has expelled an Indian diplomat
(Tuesday) on spying charges. Pakistani officials say
the expulsion of the diplomat [Madan Mohan] is not
related to the shooting down of the Pakistani
aircraft. (Signed)
NEB/AG/WTW
10-Aug-1999 15:22 PM EDT (10-Aug-1999 1922 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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