| SLUG: 2-271620 Pak/India/Kashmir (L-only)
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DATE=01/20/01 TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT TITLE=Pak India Kashmir (L-only) NUMBER=2-271620 BYLINE=Ayaz Gul DATELINE=Islamabad CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: Pakistan is accusing India of threatening a new peace process aimed at resolving the Kashmir dispute by refusing to issue travel documents to separatist Kashmiri leaders to visit Pakistan. The visit is meant to pave the way for a three-party dialogue, including leaders from Pakistan, India and Kashmir, to try and find a solution to the 53-year old Kashmir dispute. Ayaz Gul reports from Islamabad. TEXT: A Pakistan Foreign Ministry spokesman, Riaz Mohammed Khan, says his country hopes that leaders of a separatist Kashmiri alliance, the All Party Hurriyat Conference, will soon be able to travel to Pakistan. The group represents major political parties in the two-thirds of Kashmir controlled by India. //KHAN ACT// We hope that formalities for their travel documents for their travel to Pakistan will be completed soon. However, with the delay and with visibly recalcitrant and negative attitude on the part of the Indian authorities, the opportunity for addressing the Kashmir dispute by initiating a peace process appears to be slipping away. //END ACT// A delegation of the Kashmiri alliance was due to arrive in Pakistan on January 15th to push forward the peace process after India declared a ceasefire against separatist guerrillas in the disputed region. But the deadline for the visit passed because the Indian government has yet to issue passports to four members of the team. Pakistan responded to the Indian ceasefire by saying it has partially withdrawn troops from the "line of control" that divides Kashmir between the two countries. Pakistani spokesman Khan says his country favors a peace process and the resumption of a dialogue with India. But he says New Delhi must demonstrate its "sincerity". //KHAN ACT// India needs to take decisions to demonstrate through actions its sincerity for resolving the Kashmir dispute peacefully, respecting the wishes of the Kashmiri people and the International community. //END ACT// India accuses Pakistan of fueling a decade long insurgency in its part of Kashmir by arming insurgents. New Delhi says it will not revive peace talks with Islamabad until Pakistan stops doing so. The Pakistani government denies the charge saying it provides only moral and diplomatic support to the fighters in Kashmir. (SIGNED) NEB/AG/PLM
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