DATE=10/12/98
TYPE=BACKGROUND REPORT
NUMBER=5-41576
TITLE=PAKISTAN / INDIA TALKS
BYLINE=DOUGLAS BAKSHIAN
DATELINE=NEW DELHI
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  A FORMER INDIAN PRIME MINISTER SAYS THE UPCOMING TALKS 
BETWEEN THE FOREIGN SECRETARIES OF PAKISTAN AND INDIA ARE AN 
IMPORTANT DEVELOPMENT AND HE HOPES SOME CONFIDENCE BUILDING 
MEASURES WILL EMERGE FROM THE MEETINGS. VOA NEW DELHI 
CORRESPONDENT DOUGLAS BAKSHIAN REPORTS THE DISCUSSIONS ARE TO 
BEGIN LATE THIS WEEK (SCHEDULED OCTOBER 15TH).

TEXT:  INDER KUMAR GUJRAL TOLD VOA THAT GIVEN THE STATE OF 
INCREASED TENSIONS FOLLOWING THE MAY NUCLEAR TESTS BY INDIA AND 
PAKISTAN -- THE FACT THAT THE NATIONS ARE EVEN TALKING IS AN 
ACHIEVEMENT.

                        //  GUJRAL ACT //

         I THINK PARTICULARLY AFTER THE NUCLEAR TESTS, IT IS 
         EXTREMELY IMPORTANT THAT BOTH NEIGHBORS TALK TO EACH 
         OTHER AND SORT OUT THE ISSUES BILATERALLY THROUGH 
         NEGOTIATIONS. THE NUCLEAR TESTS IMPLY ONE THING -- THAT 
         BOTH HAVE A DETERRENT.  AND THEREFORE WITH A PROVEN 
         DETERRENT IN BOTH HANDS ALL TYPES OF WARS, SKIRMISHES 
         SHOULD BE RULED OUT COMPLETELY.  AND ONLY ONE PASSAGE 
         SHOULD BE KEPT AND THAT PASSAGE IS NEGOTIATIONS.

                         //  END ACT //

THE FOREIGN SECRETARIES ARE TO ADDRESS ISSUES INCLUDING PEACE AND
SECURITY AS WELL AS KASHMIR, A DISPUTED TERRITORY OVER WHICH 
INDIA AND PAKISTAN HAVE FOUGHT TWO WARS.       

THE OFFICIALS ARE ALSO EXPECTED TO REVIEW CONFIDENCE BUILDING 
MEASURES, INCLUDING A PROPOSAL FOR DAILY BUS SERVICE BETWEEN THE 
PAKISTANI CITY OF LAHORE AND THE INDIAN CAPITAL, NEW DELHI.  MANY
FAMILIES WERE DIVIDED WHEN PAKISTAN AND INDIA WERE SEPARATED AT 
INDEPENDENCE IN 1947 AND MR. GUJRAL SAYS THE BUS SERVICE WOULD 
GREATLY INCREASE FAMILY VISITS. 

                        //  GUJRAL ACT //

         YOU WILL KINDLY RECALL THAT FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS I 
         HAVE BEEN TRYING TO MAKE TRAVEL EASIER BETWEEN THE TWO 
         OF US.  WE HAVE UNILATERALLY LIBERALIZED BUS SERVICE 
         ALSO. ANDI IF THIS BUS SERVICE STARTS THIS IS ONE BIG 
         GAIN BECAUSE THE FAMILIES WHICH ARE SPLIT -- THAT IS 
         SOME PEOPLE LIVE IN INDIA AND SOME LIVE IN PAKISTAN -- 
         TRAVEL IS VERY EXPENSIVE. THE DISTANCE BETWEEN DELHI AND
         LAHORE IS ONLY ABOUT 200 MILES (320 KILOMETERS). AND 
         THIS 200 MILES COSTS A LOT OF MONEY IF YOU GO BY AIR. 
         AND IF YOU LET THE TRAFFIC COME ON THE ROADS IT SERVES 
         THE POOR OF BOTH COUNTRIES.

                         //  END ACT //

FAMILY VISITS ARE AN EMOTIONAL ISSUE IN THE REGION AND THE BUS 
SERVICE IS SEEN AS AN IMPORTANT GOODWILL GESTURE.

MR. GUJRAL SAYS THE DIALOGUE PROCESS BETWEEN INDIA AND PAKISTAN 
IS VITAL. HE SAYS THERE WILL BE FRUSTRATIONS ALONG THE WAY, BUT 
THE DETERMINATION TO SUCCEED MUST SURVIVE.  IT HAS BEEN MORE THAN
ONE YEAR SINCE THE FOREIGN SECRETARIES HELD THEIR LAST ROUND OF 
FORMAL TALKS.  (SIGNED) 

NEB/DB/CB/KL

12-Oct-98 7:14 AM EDT (1114 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.