DATE=11/13/98
TYPE=BACKGROUND REPORT
NUMBER=5-41852
TITLE=PAK/INDIA TALKS
BYLINE=DOUGLAS BAKSHIAN
DATELINE=NEW DELHI
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:  

INTRO: INDIA AND PAKISTAN FRIDAY CONCLUDED SIX DAYS OF TALKS IN 
NEW DELHI ON ISSUES RANGING FROM WATER AND MILITARY DISPUTES TO 
CULTURAL EXCHANGES. VOA CORRESPONDENT DOUGLAS BAKSHIAN REPORTS 
THE DIALOGUE PRODUCED NO PROGRESS IN KEY AREAS BUT IS SEEN AS A 
WAY TO LOWER TENSIONS BETWEEN THE HISTORICAL RIVALS. (EDITORS: 
THERE WERE SIX SEPARATE DAYS OF TALKS SPREAD OUT OVER A NINE-DAY 
PERIOD)

TEXT: ANALYSTS SAY PAKISTAN AND INDIA HAVE ACHIEVED LITTLE MORE 
THAN RESTATING THEIR POSITIONS ON LONG-STANDING DISPUTES. ON 
THURSDAY THE SIDES ACCUSED EACH OTHER OF SUPPORTING TERRORISM. IN
EARLIER TALKS PAKISTAN REJECTED AN INDIAN OFFER FOR A CEASEFIRE 
ON THE HEAVILY MILITARIZED SIACHEN GLACIER.  DISCUSSIONS ON A 
RIVER WATER DISPUTE AND OTHER MATTERS PRODUCED SIMILAR RESULTS.

DESPITE THE SEEMING IMPASSE, ANALYSTS SAY THE DIALOGUE PROCESS 
ITSELF HELPS TO EASE TENSIONS.  BRAHMA CHELLANEY, OF THE CENTER 
FOR POLICY RESEARCH IN NEW DELHI, SAYS THIS ROUND OF TALKS IS 
ONLY PART OF A LARGER DIPLOMATIC PROCESS.

                            //  CHELLANEY ACT // 

 ONE HAS TO REMEMBER THAT THESE TWO COUNTRIES HAVE RESTARTED A 
DIALOGUE AFTER A GAP OF SIX TO SEVEN YEARS ON THESE DISPUTES. 
THEREFORE IT WOULD HAVE BEEN TOO MUCH TO EXPECT THAT AFTER 
REOPENING THE DIALOGUE THEY WOULD MAKE IMMEDIATE PROGRESS ON 
THESE DEEP ROOTED DISPUTES THAT THEY HAVE. THE VERY FACT THAT 
THEY HAVE RESTARTED DIALOGUE AND THEY ARE DISCUSSING WAYS TO 
LOWER TENSIONS, WAYS TO RESOLVE SOME OF THESE DISPUTES, IS BY 
ITSELF AN IMPORTANT STEP FORWARD. BUT I THINK THE FACT THAT THERE
HAS BEEN LITTLE OR NO PROGRESS IN THE KEY AREAS IS NOT A 
SURPRISE.                            

                  //  END ACT //

SOME OBSERVERS DESCRIBED THE TALKS AS AN EXERCISE IN PUBLIC 
RELATIONS TO SATISFY WORLD OPINION.  INDIA AND PAKISTAN RECEIVED 
STRONG INTERNATIONAL CONDEMNATION FOLLOWING THEIR NUCLEAR TESTS 
IN MAY AND BOTH COUNTRIES CAME UNDER PRESSURE TO EASE TENSIONS. 
MR.CHELLANEY SAYS THE NUCLEAR FACTOR GAVE A NEW URGENCY TO THE 
NEED FOR IMPROVED RELATIONS BETWEEN THE OLD RIVALS.

                            //  CHELLANEY ACT // 

 PARTLY IT WAS A P-R EXERCISE. THEY WERE TRYING TO TELL THEIR OWN
CITIZENS AND THE REST OF THE WORLD THAT THEY ARE ENGAGED IN 
IMPROVING THEIR BATTERED RELATIONS. BUT I THINK THERE IS ALSO A 
GENUINE RECOGNITION ON BOTH SIDES, THAT WITH BOTH COUNTRIES 
HAVING GONE OVERTLY NUCLEAR SIX MONTHS AGO, THAT THEY NEED TO 
ESTABLISH LINES OF COMMUNICATION, THEY NEED TO FIND WAYS TO 
ENSURE THAT THINGS WON'T GO OUT OF CONTROL. AND THAT THE TWO ARE 
ACTUALLY RESPONSIBLE NATIONS THAT CAN LIVE IN PEACE WITHOUT EVERY
DISPUTE SPILLING INTO OPEN CONFLICT.   

                                //  END ACT //

INDIA AND PAKISTAN HAVE FOUGHT THREE WARS, TWO OF THEM OVER THE 
DISPUTED KASHMIR REGION. PAKISTAN SAYS THAT UNTIL THERE IS 
PROGRESS ON KASHMIR, THE SIDES CANNOT  IMPROVE RELATIONS IN OTHER
AREAS.  KASHMIR WAS  NOT COVERED IN THIS ROUND OF TALKS AND IS 
BEING ADDRESSED IN SEPARATE DISCUSSIONS BETWEEN THE FOREIGN 
SECRETARIES OF BOTH NATIONS. THE FOREIGN SECRETARIES ARE NEXT 
SCHEDULED TO MEET IN FEBRUARY.  (SIGNED)

NEB/DB/DWJ/PLM

13-Nov-98 7:41 AM EST (1241 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.