DATE=6/29/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-234737
TITLE=PAK U-S (L-UPDATE)
BYLINE=AYAZ GUL
DATELINE=ISLAMABAD
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  TWO U-S LAWMAKERS MET TOP PAKISTANI LEADERS (MONDAY) IN 
ISLAMABAD TO DISCUSS ISSUES THAT HAVE RAISED TENSION IN SOUTH 
ASIA FOLLOWING INDIAN AND PAKISTANI NUCLEAR TESTS.  AS AYAZ GUL 
REPORTS FROM ISLAMABAD, THE U-S DELEGATION'S VISIT COMES AHEAD OF
AN IMPORTANT SENATE REVIEW OF ECONOMIC SANCTIONS NEXT MONTH. 

TEXT:  AFTER VISITING INDIA SUNDAY, SENATOR SAM BROWNBACK AND 
SENATOR CHARLES ROBB HELD EXTENSIVE TALKS WITH PAKISTANI PRIME 
MINISTER NAWAZ SHARIF AND OTHER SENIOR OFFICIALS DURING A ONE-DAY
TRIP (MONDAY) TO PAKISTAN.

THE TWO U-S SENATORS ARE VISITING THE REGION FOLLOWING THE 
FORMATION OF A SPECIAL CONGRESSIONAL TASK FORCE TO EXAMINE U-S  
SANCTIONS POLICY.  THE TASK FORCE IS EXPECTED TO SUBMIT ITS 
REPORT ON SANCTIONS NEXT MONTH. 

AT THE END OF THE VISIT, SENATOR BROWNBACK TOLD A NEWS CONFERENCE
THE PURPOSE OF MEETING INDIAN AND PAKISTANI LEADERS WAS TO START 
A DIALOGUE TO EASE TENSION IN THE REGION AFTER THE NUCLEAR TESTS 
BY THE TWO COUNTRIES.

                      // BROWNBACK ACT // 

         WE ARE HERE IN THIS DIALOGUE TO ENCOURAGE BOTH PAKISTAN 
         AND INDIA TO TAKE STEPS TO REDUCE TENSIONS IN THE 
         REGION.  CERTAINLY EACH SIDE SHOULD DO EVERYTHING THEY 
         CAN TO NOT MAKE PROVOCATIVE ACTIONS OR STEPS TOWARDS 
         KASHMIR, WHICH HAS BEEN THE FLASH POINT IN THESE TWO 
         NATIONS FOR SOMETIME.

                        // END ACT //   

KASHMIR IS A DISPUTED TERRITORY OVER WHICH INDIA AND PAKISTAN 
HAVE FOUGHT TWO WARS, NEW DELHI CONTROLS TWO-THIRDS OF THE REGION
AND ISLAMABAD THE REST.

PAKISTAN WANTS INTERNATIONAL MEDIATORS TO SETTLE THE DISPUTE, BUT
INDIA REJECTS OUTSIDE INVOLVEMENT IN TALKS ON KASHMIR.

RECENTLY, THERE APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN AN INCREASE IN FIRING 
BETWEEN INDIAN AND PAKISTANI SOLDIERS ALONG THE DISPUTED BORDER 
IN KASHMIR.  PAKISTAN HAS ACCUSED INDIA OF SHELLING BORDER 
VILLAGES AND TARGETING CIVILIANS.  NEW DELHI DENIES THE CHARGE. 

THE TWO U-S SENATORS ALSO TOURED THE PAKISTANI SIDE OF KASHMIR.

SENATOR CHARLES ROBB SAYS A CEASEFIRE ON THE TROUBLED BORDER 
WOULD BE A GOOD FIRST STEP TOWARD REDUCING THE TENSION BETWEEN 
THE TWO NATIONS.

                          //ROBB ACT//

         IT (KASHMIR) IS AN IMPORTANT ISSUE THAT OUGHT TO BE 
         RESOLVED, AND AGAIN I TAKE FROM IT MY OWN EXPERIENCE 
         TODAY THAT THERE IS A LOT OF SENSELESS KILLING AND 
         MAIMING GOING ON AND THE VICTIMS ARE CIVILIANS NOT 
         MILITARY.  AND SOME SORT OF AT LEAST A CEASEFIRE OR 
         OTHER CONFIDENCE BUILDING MECHANISMS THAT MIGHT BE 
         INSTITUTED WOULD BE A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

                         // END ACT // 

FEARS OF A NUCLEAR ARMS RACE IN SOUTH ASIA WERE RAISED IN MAY 
WHEN INDIA CONDUCTED FIVE NUCLEAR TESTS, PROMPTING PAKISTAN TO 
QUICKLY RESPONDED WITH SIX NUCLEAR EXPLOSIONS OF ITS OWN.  THE 
UNITED STATES IMPOSED PUNITIVE ECONOMIC SANCTIONS ON THE TWO 
COUNTRIES FOLLOWING THE TESTS.   (SIGNED) 

NEB/AG/LTD/RAE

29-Jun-98 1:55 PM EDT (1755 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.