DATE=9/5/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-238194
TITLE=INDIA / PAKISTAN / L-O
BYLINE=ANJANA PASRICHA
DATELINE=NEW DELHI
CONTENT=
 

 VOICED AT:  

INTRO:  INDIAN PRIME MINISTER ATAL BEHARI VAJPAYEE SAYS INDIA AND
PAKISTAN HAVE MADE PROGRESS ON RESUMING OFFICIAL-LEVEL TALKS. 
ANJANA PASRICHA REPORTS FROM NEW DELHI, INDIAN AND PAKISTANI 
OFFICIALS RESOLVED DIFFERENCES OVER HOW TO RESUME TALKS AT A 
MEETING IN SOUTH AFRICA ON THE SIDELINES OF THIS WEEK'S 
NON-ALIGNED SUMMIT. 

TEXT: PRIME MINISTER VAJPAYEE SAYS MODALITIES TO RESUME AN 
OFFICIAL DIALOGUE WITH PAKISTAN HAVE BEEN DRAWN UP.

ON RETURNING TO NEW DELHI FROM SOUTH AFRICA SATURDAY, MR. 
VAJPAYEE, TOLD REPORTERS THERE WAS "FORWARD MOVEMENT" AT MEETINGS
BETWEEN INDIAN AND PAKISTANI DELEGATIONS IN DURBAN. HE SAYS INDIA
IS READY TO DISCUSS ALL ISSUES -- INCLUDING KASHMIR. 

ACCORDING TO MR. VAJPAYEE, THE TALKS WILL FEATURE INDIA AND 
PAKISTAN, WITHOUT A THIRD-PARTY MEDIATON.                        
    

TALKS BETWEEN THE TWO NATIONS HAVE BEEN STALLED FOR NEARLY AN 
YEAR.  INDIA HAS BEEN INSISTING ON A BROAD DIALOGUE COVERING ALL 
CONTENTIOUS ISSUES, WHILE PAKISTAN WANTED TO FOCUS ON KASHMIR, A 
DISPUTED TERRITORY OVER WHICH THE NATIONS HAVE FOUGHT TWO WARS.

INDIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESMAN K-C SINGH SAYS THE BREAKTHROUGH
ON HOW THE TALKS WILL PROCEED CAME AT A MEETING BETWEEN PAKISTANI
AND INDIAN OFFICIALS IN DURBAN.

                              ///SINGH ACTUALITY/// 

THE FOREIGN SECRETARIES OF INDIA AND PAKISTAN HELD DISCUSSIONS 
IN DURBAN ON MODALITIES OF THE DIALOGUE PROCESS.  AN 
UNDERSTANDING WAS REACHED, AND DIFFERENCES WERE RESOLVED.

                           ///END ACTUALITY///

DATES FOR TALKS ARE EXPECTED TO BE ANNOUNCED AFTER THE INDIAN AND
PAKISTANI PRIME MINISTERS MEET IN NEW YORK, LATER THIS MONTH, FOR
THE UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY SESSION.

EFFORTS TO RESUME THE TALKS HAD FAILED AT A MEETING IN JULY 
BETWEEN MR. VAJPAYEE AND HIS PAKISTANI COUNTERPART.  PAKISTAN 
CHARGED INDIA HAD TAKEN A RIGID STAND ON KASHMIR.  INDIA SAID 
PAKISTAN'S FOCUS ON THE DISPUTED REGION WAS OBSESSIVE.

BOTH NATIONS ARE UNDER INTERNATIONAL PRESSURE TO SETTLE THEIR 
DIFFERENCES THROUGH A DIALOGUE AFTER THEY CONDUCTED NUCLEAR TESTS
IN MAY THIS YEAR INCREASING TENSIONS IN SOUTH ASIA. (SIGNED)

NEB / AP / DWJ-T / WD

05-Sep-98 6:35 AM EDT (1035 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.