DATE=6/12/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-233793
TITLE=INDIA / PAKISTAN TALKS (L)
BYLINE=JIM TEEPLE
DATELINE=NEW DELHI
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  THE GOVERNMENT OF INDIA HAS INVITED PAKISTAN'S FOREIGN 
SECRETARY TO NEW DELHI ON JUNE 22ND FOR BILATERAL TALKS.  V-O-A'S
JIM TEEPLE REPORTS THE INDIAN GOVERNMENT ALSO WELCOMED PAKISTAN'S
DECISION TO PLACE A MORATORIUM ON NUCLEAR TESTING.  

TEXT:  INDIA SAYS PAKISTAN'S FOREIGN SECRETARY IS WELCOME TO COME
TO NEW DELHI TO DISCUSS A VARIETY OF ISSUES, INCLUDING NUCLEAR 
PROLIFERATION AND THE KASHMIR DISPUTE.   

K-C SINGH A SPOKESMAN FOR INDIA'S FOREIGN AFFAIRS MINISTRY SAYS 
THE TALKS SHOULD BE BASED ON PROPOSALS SUBMITTED TO PAKISTAN IN 
JANUARY.  

                      // SINGH ACTUALITY //

         WE NOTE THAT OUR VIEW THAT THE BILATERAL DIALOGUE 
         PROCESS SHOULD PROCEED AHEAD FOR MUTUAL BENEFIT IS 
         FINDING ACCEPTANCE IN PAKISTAN.  WE HOPE THEY WILL 
         CONTINUE ON THIS PATH. 

                      //  END ACTUALITY //

AFTER A THREE-YEAR BREAK, SENIOR DIPLOMATS FROM BOTH COUNTRIES 
HELD THREE ROUNDS OF TALKS IN 1997 BUT LITTLE OR  NO  PROGRESS 
WAS MADE ON A NUMBER OF ISSUES.

IN JANUARY OF THIS YEAR, THE PRIME MINISTERS OF PAKISTAN AND 
INDIA HELD BRIEF TALKS IN DHAKA, BANGLADESH, BUT SINCE THEN THERE
HAVE BEEN  NO  SIMILAR DISCUSSIONS.  

A SEPARATE STATEMENT ISSUED BY INDIA'S FOREIGN AFFAIRS MINISTRY 
ON FRIDAY ALSO WELCOMED PAKISTAN'S ANNOUNCEMENT THAT IT WAS 
PLACING A MORATORIUM ON ALL FURTHER NUCLEAR TESTS.  K-C SINGH OF 
INDIA'S FOREIGN MINISTRY NOTED INDIA HAD PUT ITS OWN MORATORIUM 
ON NUCLEAR TESTING IN PLACE MORE THAN THREE WEEKS AGO -- BEFORE 
PAKISTAN CONDUCTED ITS OWN TESTS. 

                      // SINGH ACTUALITY //

         IT IS ENCOURAGING THAT PAKISTAN TOO HAS NOW ANNOUNCED A 
         MORATORIUM.  IT WILL BE RECALLED, INDIA HAD ANNOUNCED A 
         MORATORIUM ON NUCLEAR TESTS MORE THAN THREE WEEKS AGO 
         AND, DESPITE SUBSEQUENT TESTS BY PAKISTAN TOOK THE 
         RESPONSIBLE DECISION TO CONTINUE ITS MORATORIUM. 

                       // END ACTUALITY //

THE PRIME MINISTERS OF INDIA AND PAKISTAN ARE ALSO EXPECTED TO 
MEET SOON FOR FACE-TO-FACE TALKS AT A REGIONAL SUMMIT IN SRI 
LANKA IN JULY.  (SIGNED) 

NEB/JLT/LTD /MMK

12-Jun-98 9:38 AM EDT (1338 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.