DATE=11/6/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-241338
TITLE=INDIA/PAK SANCTIONS (L)
BYLINE=NICK SIMEONE
DATELINE=WASHINGTON 
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  THE UNITED STATES HAS DECIDED TO LIFT SOME SANCTIONS ON 
INDIA AND PAKISTAN, IMPOSED IN RESPONSE TO NUCLEAR TESTS CARRIED 
OUT BY BOTH COUNTRIES EARLIER THIS YEAR.  U-S OFFICIALS ARE 
POINTING TO PROGRESS BY THE ASIAN NEIGHBORS IN CURBING WHAT HAD 
BEEN AN ESCALATING NUCLEAR ARMS RACE IN THE REGION.  WE GET 
DETAILS FROM V-O-A'S NICK SIMEONE. 

TEXT:   WHEN INDIA AND PAKISTAN CARRIED OUT MULTIPLE NUCLEAR 
TESTS LAST MAY, THERE WERE FEARS THAT ACCOMPANYING TENSIONS 
BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES OVER THE DISPUTED TERRITORY OF KASHMIR 
WERE PUSHING THE SUBCONTINENT TO THE BRINK OF NUCLEAR 
CONFRONTATION. 

PAKISTAN HAD IGNORED DIRECT APPEALS BY PRESIDENT CLINTON TO HOLD 
OFF FROM RESPONDING TO INDIA'S NUCLEAR TESTS WITH TESTS OF ITS 
OWN.  IN RESPONSE, THE UNITED STATES AND OTHER NATIONS PUT BOTH 
COUNTRIES UNDER SANCTIONS.  

BUT FRIDAY, THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION ANNOUNCED SOME OF THOSE 
SANCTIONS -- INCLUDING MILLIONS OF DOLLARS WORTH OF ECONOMIC AND 
MILITARY TRAINING PROGRAMS -- WOULD BE LIFTED.  WHITE HOUSE 
SPOKESMAN P-J CROWLEY: 

                        // CROWLEY ACT //

         THE PRESIDENT HAS TAKEN THIS ACTION IN RESPONSE TO 
         POSITIVE STEPS THAT BOTH INDIA AND PAKISTAN HAVE TAKEN 
         SINCE THEIR NUCLEAR TESTS IN MAY.  WE HAVE SAID ALL 
         ALONG WE WANTED TO BE IN A POSITION TO RESPOND 
         POSITIVELY TO CONCRETE STEPS THAT BOTH COUNTRIES WOULD 
         TAKE TO EASE TENSIONS IN SOUTH ASIA.  

                          // END ACT //

ONE OF THOSE CONCRETE STEPS WAS THE PLEDGE BY BOTH INDIA AND 
PAKISTAN TO REFRAIN FROM FURTHER NUCLEAR TESTING.  BUT A WIDE 
RANGE OF SANCTIONS -- INCLUDING U-S TECHNOLOGY EXPORTS AND 
MILITARY SALES IN THE CASE OF PAKISTAN -- REMAIN IN PLACE.   

BOTH COUNTRIES DEPEND HEAVILY ON FOREIGN AID BUT THE SANCTIONS 
HAD HIT PAKISTAN THE HARDEST.   THE PAKISTANI GOVERNMENT, WITH 
MORE THAN 30 BILLION DOLLARS IN FOREIGN DEBT, FACED A SUSPENSION 
OF NEARLY ALL U-S AID AND LOANS FROM AMERICAN BANKS.   

ANALYSTS PREDICTED THAT SUCH MEASURES WOULD PUSH THE COUNTRY TO 
THE BRINK OF DEFAULT.  ADDING ANOTHER FINANCIAL CRISIS TO AN 
ALREADY TUMBLING WORLD ECONOMY WAS SOMETHING THE CLINTON 
ADMINISTRATION WANTED TO PREVENT. (SIGNED) 

NEB/NJS/JO



06-Nov-98 7:20 PM EST (0020 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.