DATE=7/31/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-236328
TITLE=PAK-INDIA L
BYLINE=DOUGLAS BAKSHIAN
DATELINE=COLOMBO
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  PAKISTAN AND INDIA SAY THERE HAS BEEN  NO  PROGRESS IN 
THEIR TALKS IN SRI LANKA, BUT THEY HAVE COMMITTED THEMSELVES TO 
CONTINUE A DIALOGUE THROUGH DIPLOMATIC CHANNELS.  V-O-A 
CORRESPONDENT DOUGLAS BAKSHIAN REPORTS FROM COLOMBO. 

TEXT:  PAKISTANI GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN TARIQ ALTAF TOLD REPORTERS 
THE MEETINGS BETWEEN THE PAKISTANI AND INDIAN FOREIGN SECRETARIES
IN SRI LANKA PRODUCED  NO  FORWARD MOVEMENT. 

                        //  ALTAF ACT //

         IT HAS  NOT  BEEN POSSIBLE FOR THEM TO REACH AN 
         AGREEMENT.  AS SUCH THE PAKISTAN-INDIA DIALOGUE REMAINS 
         STALEMATED AND  NO  PROGRESS HAS BEEN MADE IN COLOMBO.  
         AT THE HEART OF THE PROBLEM LIES THE RIGID AND 
         INFLEXIBLE POSITION WHICH INDIA CONTINUES TO MAINTAIN IN
         ITS REFUSAL TO ADDRESS THE ISSUES OF PEACE AND SECURITY 
         AND THE JAMMU AND KASHMIR DISPUTE.

                          //  END ACT //

THE FOREIGN SECRETARIES WERE TRYING TO WORK OUT A WAY TO RESUME 
STALLED PEACE TALKS.  

INDIAN FOREIGN SECRETARY K-RAGUNATH, FOR HIS PART, ALSO SAYS 
THERE WAS  NO  PROGRESS IN THE MEETINGS.  HE SAYS INDIA FAVORS A 
BROAD DIALOGUE COVERING MANY ISSUES, WHILE PAKISTAN WANTS TO 
FOCUS ON KASHMIR, A DISPUTED TERRITORY OVER WHICH THE NATIONS 
HAVE FOUGHT TWO WARS.

                       //  RAGUNATH ACT //

         OUR APPROACH HAS ALL ALONG BEEN FOR A BROAD-BASED AND 
         COMPOSITE DIALOGUE WHICH WILL MOVE THE RELATIONSHIP 
         FORWARD ACROSS A BROAD FRONT.  SUCH A COMPREHENSIVE, 
         CONSTRUCTIVE AND SUSTAINED DIALOGUE WOULD BUILD MUTUAL 
         TRUST AND CONFIDENCE, PROMOTE COOPERATION IN AREAS OF 
         MUTUAL BENEFIT, AND ADDRESS BILATERAL ISSUES ON WHICH 
         THE TWO COUNTRIES DO  NOT  SEE EYE-TO-EYE.

                         //  END ACT //

MR. RAGUNATH SAYS AN OBSESSIVE FOCUS ON A SINGLE ISSUE IS, WHAT 
HE TERMED, NEUROTIC.  THE INDIAN FOREIGN SECRETARY ALSO REJECTED 
A SET OF CONFIDENCE BUILDING MEASURES PROPOSED BY PAKISTAN AS 
INTERFERENCE IN INDIA'S INTERNAL AFFAIRS.  ONE OF THE MEASURES 
CALLED FOR NEW DELHI TO REDUCE ITS SECURITY FORCES IN INDIAN 
KASHMIR. 

HOWEVER, BOTH THE INDIAN AND PAKISTANI OFFICIALS SAY THEY WILL 
CONTINUE CONTACTS THROUGH DIPLOMATIC CHANNELS IN EFFORTS TO GET A
DIALOGUE PROCESS UNDERWAY. 

THEY ALSO SAY THE PRIME MINISTERS OF INDIA AND PAKISTAN ARE 
EXPECTED TO MEET AT THE NON-ALIGNED SUMMIT IN DURBAN SOUTH AFRICA
IN EARLY SEPTEMBER.  THE LEADERS MET BRIEFLY IN COLOMBO WHERE 
THEY ATTENDED A SOUTH ASIAN SUMMIT.  THIS WAS THEIR FIRST MEETING
SINCE INDIA AND PAKISTAN CONDUCTED NUCLEAR TESTS IN MAY, 
PROMPTING CONCERNS ABOUT INCREASED TENSIONS BETWEEN THE TWO 
RIVALS.  (SIGNED)

NEB/DB/LTD/MMK

31-Jul-98 8:05 AM EDT (1205 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.