DATE=9/3/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=PAKISTAN-INDIA (L-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-253428
BYLINE=AYAZ GUL
DATELINE=ISLAMABAD
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: Pakistan is releasing two Indian soldiers
captured during a recent (last Monday) military
offensive along the disputed border in the
Kashmir region. Ayaz Gul reports from Islamabad,
Pakistan has asked the International Committee of
the Red Cross to take custody of the two Indians.
TEXT: A foreign ministry statement (Friday) says
Pakistan has decided to immediately release the
two Indian soldiers it says were captured during
a failed attempt by India last Monday to seize
territory on the Pakistani side of Kashmir.
The Pakistani statement says Pakistan government
has requested the I-C-R-C to make "appropriate"
arrangements to receive the Indian soldiers and
hand them over to New Delhi.
The announcement comes a day after Pakistani
authorities showed a videotape of the two Indians
(identified as Ram Singh and Bajander Singh) as
proof of Pakisan's allegation that India had
launched a ground attack against a Pakistan
military post (Shyok-Turtok area) in Kashmir.
The area is close to Kargil, which was the scene
of fierce fighting between Indian troops and
Pakistani-backed Islamic rebels.
India denies its forces have carried out any
military offensive in recent days in Kashmir. It
says the two Indian soldiers disappeared, along
with four other colleagues, while on patrol along
the "Line of Control" that divides Kashmir.
A Pakistan military spokesman, Rashid Qureshi, on
Thursday accused India of escalating border
tensions in the Kashmir region.
// QURESHI ACT //
Indians have continued to attack
(Pakistani) areas along the line of control
(in Kashmir) despite Pakistan's best
efforts to de-escalate. They also continue
to deceive the world by not admitting their
offensive designs.
// END ACT //
Meanwhile, Pakistan has asked the United Nations
Security Council to support Islamabad's request
for a U-N-sponsored investigation into the
downing of a Pakistan naval aircraft by India in
early August. Sixteen people were killed in the
incident. Pakistan is also claiming 60-million
dollars in compensation from India, a demand that
India has already rejected. (SIGNED)
NEB/AG
03-Sep-1999 11:54 AM EDT (03-Sep-1999 1554 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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