DATE=10/18/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-240362
TITLE=INDIA TALKS (L)
BYLINE=DOUGLAS BAKSHIAN
DATELINE=ISLAMABAD
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  THE FOREIGN SECRETARIES OF PAKISTAN AND INDIA HAVE ENDED 
THREE-DAYS OF PEACE TALKS IN ISLAMABAD BY AGREEING TO MEET AGAIN 
IN FEBRUARY.  CORRESPONDENT DOUGLAS BAKSHIAN REPORTS FROM 
PAKISTAN'S CAPITAL. 

TEXT:  IN A JOINT STATEMENT, INDIA AND PAKISTAN SAID THEY 
DISCUSSED KASHMIR, PEACE AND SECURITY AND CONFIDENCE BUILDING 
MEASURES, AND THESE ISSUES WILL BE ADDRESSED IN THE NEXT TALKS. 

PAKISTANI ENVOY SHAMSHAD AHMAD INDICATED WAYS TO AVERT A NUCLEAR 
CONFLICT WERE AN IMPORTANT FEATURE OF THE NEGOTIATIONS. 

                        // AHMAD ACT // 

         THE ACQUISITION BY INDIA AND THEN BY PAKISTAN OF NUCLEAR
         WEAPONS CAPABILITY POSES A VERY HEAVY RESPONSIBILITY ON 
         BOTH SIDES TO ENSURE THAT THESE DEVASTATING WEAPONS 
         WOULD NEVER BE USED. 

                         //  END ACT // 

INDIAN ENVOY K-RAGHUNATH SAYS INDIA OFFERED A 
NO-FIRST-USE-OF-NUCLEAR WEAPONS PROPOSAL.  PAKISTAN HAS CALLED 
THIS CONCEPT OUTDATED, AND SAYS ANY BILATERAL NON-AGRESSION PACT 
WITH INDIA SHOULD INCLUDE LIMITS ON THE PRODUCTION OF NUCLEAR 
ARMS.  FEARS OF A NUCLEAR ARMS RACE WERE TRIGGERED LAST MAY WHEN 
BOTH NATIONS CONDUCTED NUCLEAR TESTS.  

ALTHOUGH THE DELEGATES WERE NOT ABLE TO AGREE ON CONFIDENCE 
BUILDING MEASURES, BOTH OFFICIALS DENIED THE TALKS FAILED.  
INDIAN ENVOY RAGHUNATH SAYS THE NEGOTIATIONS MAY RUN INTO 
OBSTACLES BUT THESE CAN BE OVERCOME.

                      //  RAGHUNATH ACT // 

         BOTH OUR COUNTRIES ARE COMMITTED TO ENGAGING OURSELVES 
         IN A SERIOUS, SUSTAINED, AND COMPREHENSIVE COMPOSITE 
         DIALOGUE PROCESS, AND IN THIS PROCESS IT IS INEVITABLE 
         THAT THERE WILL BE DIFFERENCES.  BUT WHAT IS IMPORTANT 
         IS THAT WE REMAIN ENGAGED, WITH A VIEW TO GETTING AROUND
         THESE DIFFICULTIES. 

                         // END ACT // 

PAKISTANI FOREIGN SECRETARY AHMAD ALSO SAYS PEOPLE SHOULD NOT 
EXPECT QUICK RESULTS FROM THE NEGOTIATIONS. 

                        // AHMAD ACT // 

         I MUST EMPHASIZE THAT THESE TALKS, PERHAPS, REPRESENTED 
         THE FIRST SUBSTANTIVE EFFORT IN A LONG TIME BETWEEN OUR 
         TWO COUNTRIES TO ADDRESS THE ISSUES OF PEACE AND 
         SECURITY AND THE JAMMU AND KASHMIR ISSUE.

                         // END ACT // 

PAKISTAN HAS INDICATED PROGRESS WILL BE NEEDED ON THE KASHMIR 
DISPUTE FOR THE TWO NATIONS TO MOVE FORWARD IN OTHER AREAS.  
THESE ARE THE FIRST HIGH-LEVEL TALKS BETWEEN ISLAMABAD AND NEW 
DELHI IN MORE THAN ONE-YEAR.

ANALYSTS SAY THE TALKS HAVE RESUMED BECAUSE OF INTERNATIONAL 
PRESSURE, MOST NOTABLY FROM THE UNITED STATES, WHICH HAS IMPOSED 
SANCTIONS ON BOTH COUNTRIES BECAUSE OF THEIR RECENT NUCLEAR 
TESTS.   (SIGNED) 

NEB/DB/DWJ/RAE

18-Oct-98 7:50 AM EDT (1150 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.