DATE=9/24/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-239178
TITLE=INDIA-PAK TALKS (L)
BYLINE=DOUGLAS BAKSHIAN
DATELINE=NEW DELHI
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  A FORMER INDIAN FOREIGN SECRETARY HAS PRAISED A MOVE BY 
PAKISTAN AND INDIA TO RESUME HIGH-LEVEL TALKS.  NEW DELHI 
CORRESPONDENT DOUGLAS BAKSHIAN HAS MORE ON THE STORY.

TEXT: J-N DIXIT, WHO SERVED AS FOREIGN SECRETARY IN THE EARLY 
1990'S, SAYS THE DECISION BY INDIA AND PAKISTAN TO RESUME FOREIGN
SECRETARY-LEVEL TALKS IS A SMALL, BUT IMPORTANT STEP FORWARD. 

                        //  DIXIT ACT // 

         I DESCRIBE IT AS A POSITIVE DEVELOPMENT OUT OF A VERY 
         DIFFICULT SITUATION WHICH WAS CONTINUING FOR NEARLY 
         TWO-YEARS.  AFTER RESUMING OUR DIALOGUE IN 1996 -- (FOR)
         TWO YEARS WE WERE JUST DISCUSSING PROCEDURES. NOW WE 
         HAVE MOVED AWAY FROM THAT AND WE HAVE SAID, OKAY, LET US
         START DISCUSSING SPECIFIC SUBJECTS. THAT IS AN 
         IMPROVEMENT.

                         //  END ACT //

MR. DIXIT SAYS PEOPLE SHOULD  NOT  EXPECT IMMEDIATE RESULTS FROM 
THE TALKS.  HE SAYS THAT OVER TIME AND WITH SUSTAINED EFFORT, 
INDIA AND PAKISTAN WILL BE ABLE TO COME UP WITH COMPROMISES ON 
THE ISSUES THAT SEPARATE THEM.

THE PRIME MINISTERS OF INDIA AND PAKISTAN MET WEDNESDAY IN NEW 
YORK AT THE U-N GENERAL ASSEMBLY SESSION AND LATER ANNOUNCED THE 
RESUMPTION OF THE FOREIGN SECRETARY TALKS.  A JOINT STATEMENT 
SAYS THE DISCUSSIONS WILL BE HELD IN ISLAMABAD FROM OCTOBER 15TH 
TO 18TH. 

THE STATEMENT SAYS THE SIDES WILL BEGIN A SERIOUS DIALOGUE ON 
CONFIDENCE BUILDING MEASURES, PEACE AND SECURITY, AND KASHMIR.  
SIX OTHER ISSUES ON A MUTUAL AGENDA WILL BE ADDRESSED IN SEPARATE
MEETINGS IN NEW DELHI STARTING IN NOVEMBER.

INDIA AND PAKISTAN HAVE FOUGHT TWO WARS OVER KASHMIR, A DISPUTED 
TERRITORY THAT IS DIVIDED BETWEEN THEM.  THE FOREIGN-SECRETARY 
TALKS HAVE BEEN STALLED FOR SOME TIME OVER HOW TO ADDRESS THE 
KASHMIR ISSUE.   (SIGNED)

NEB/RAE

24-Sep-98 7:47 AM EDT (1147 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.