DATE=8/4/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-236479
TITLE=INDIA / KASHMIR (L)
BYLINE=ANJANA PASRICHA
DATELINE=NEW DELHI
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  TENSION REMAINS HIGH ALONG THE INDIAN AND PAKISTANI 
BORDER AS ARMIES FROM BOTH NATIONS CONTINUE TO EXCHANGE ARTILLERY
FIRE ACROSS THE DISPUTED KASHMIR BORDER.  ANJANA PASRICHA REPORTS
FROM OUR NEW DELHI BUREAU, INDIAN AUTHORITIES ARE REPORTING THREE
NEW CASUALTIES (TUESDAY) FROM THE FIRING THAT HAS CLAIMED DOZENS 
OF LIVES ON BOTH SIDES OF THE BORDER. 

TEXT:  CROSS BORDER FIRING BETWEEN INDIA AND PAKSITAN CONTINUED 
FOR THE SIXTH-DAY ALONG THE KASHMIRI BORDER. 

AN INDIAN DEFENSE MINISTRY SPOKESMAN SAYS THERE WAS RENEWED 
FIRING IN THE BARAMULLAH AND KUPWARA SECTORS AFTER THE INTENSITY 
OF THE ARTILLERY AND MORTAR SHELLING HAD BEGUN TO TAPER OFF 
MONDAY.

BOTH SIDES ACCUSE EACH OTHER OF TRIGGERING THE FIRING.  GUNFIRE 
IS ROUTINE ALONG THE FRONTIER, BUT INDIAN AND PAKSITANI 
AUTHORITIES SAY THE SCALE OF THE RECENT FIRING IS UNPRECEDENTED. 

/// OPT ///  INDIAN OFFICIALS ALSO BLAMED KASHMIRI SEPARATISTS 
FOR VIOLENCE IN THE TROUBLED STATE.  THEY SAID SUSPECTED MUSLIM 
GUERRILLAS KILLED 19 PEOPLE CLOSE TO POONCH DISTRICT FOLLOWING A 
DISPUTE BETWEEN TWO RIVAL MILITANT GROUPS.  /// END OPT ///

IN NEW DELHI, PRIME MINISTER ATAL BEHARI VAJPAYEE TOLD LAWMAKERS 
INDIA WOULD SUSTAIN EFFORTS FOR PEACE WITH PAKISTAN, DESPITE 
RISING TENSIONS.  HE SAID ATTEMPTS BY PAKISTAN TO MAKE KASHMIR A 
FLASHPOINT WOULD NOT SUCCEED. 

MR. VAJPAYEE ACCUSED ISLAMABAD OF SHOWING NO INTEREST IN A 
BILATERAL DIALOGUE WITH INDIA BECAUSE IT WANTS INTERNATIONAL 
MEDIATION ON KASHMIR.  BUT MR. VAJPAYEE SAYS INDIA WILL NOT 
ACCEPT MEDIATION BY A THIRD PARTY IN THE PROCESS.

THE INDIAN PRIME MINISTER'S INSISTENCE ON A BILATERAL DIALOGUE 
CAME AS PAKISTAN'S FOREIGN MINISTER, GOHAR AYUB KHAN, SAID NEW 
DELHI SHOULD ACCEPT OUTSIDE MEDIATION TO DEFUSE TENSION OVER THE 
DISPUTED HIMALAYAN REGION. 

TENSIONS INCREASED BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES AFTER THEY CONDUCTED
NUCLEAR TESTS IN MAY, PROMPTING RENEWED INTERNATIONAL PRESSURE ON
BOTH NATIONS TO SOLVE THEIR DISPUTE.

BUT EFFORTS TO RESUME A DIALOGUE STALLED LAST WEEK AFTER PAKISTAN
SAID KASHMIR IS THE KEY ISSUE TO BE DISCUSSED, WHILE INDIA 
INSISTED IT WAS ONLY ONE OF SEVERAL ISSUES TO BE SETTLED. 

KASHMIR, WHICH IS CLAIMED BY BOTH NATIONS, IS DIVIDED ALONG A 
CEASEFIRE LINE.  INDIA AND PAKISTAN HAVE FOUGHT TWO WARS FOR 
CONTROL OF THE REGION.   (SIGNED)

NEB/RAE

04-Aug-98 9:07 AM EDT (1307 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.