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DATE=8/3/98 TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-236426 TITLE=INDIA / KILLINGS (L-O) BYLINE=ANJANA PASRICHA DATELINE=NEW DELHI CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: INDIAN POLICE SAY 31 PEOPLE HAVE BEEN KILLED, AND SIX OTHERS INJURED BY SUSPECTED KASHMIRI MUSLIM SEPARATISTS IN THE NORTHERN STATE OF HIMACHAL PRADESH. FROM OUR NEW DELHI BUREAU, ANJANA PASRICHA REPORTS THE KILLINGS FOLLOWED ESCALATING TENSION IN THE DISPUTED KASHMIR REGION, AND AN OFFER BY INDIAN PRIME MINISTER ATAL BEHARI VAJPAYEE TO RESUME PEACE TALKS WITH PAKISTAN. TEXT: POLICE SAY THE VICTIMS WERE GUNNED DOWN EARLY MONDAY IN SEPARATE INCIDENTS IN TWO VILLAGES IN HIMACHAL PRADESH'S CHAMBA DISTRICT. THE VICTIMS WERE MOSTLY LABORERS EMPLOYED TO CONSTRUCT ROADS IN THE MOUNTAINOUS AREA THAT BORDERS JAMMU AND KASHMIR STATE. POLICE SAY SUSPECTED KASHMIRI SEPARATISTS CROSSED INTO HIMACHAL PRADESH STATE TO CARRY OUT THE ATTACK. THE ATTACK COMES AFTER AN ESCALATION IN CROSS-BORDER FIRING BETWEEN THE INDIAN AND PAKISTANI ARMIES ALONG THE DISPUTED KASHMIR BORDER. SCORES OF PEOPLE ON BOTH SIDES HAVE BEEN KILLED IN THE RECENT EXCHANGE. IN A STATEMENT TO PARLIAMENT, PRIME MINISTER ATAL BEHARI VAJPAYEE EXPRESSED HIS GOVERNMENT'S WILLINGNESS TO RESUME PEACE TALKS WITH PAKISTAN. THE STATEMENT CAME A DAY AFTER MR. SHARIF ACCUSED INDIA OF BRINGING THE REGION TO THE BRINK OF WAR WITH ARTILLERY FIRE. MR. VAJPAYEE CALLED ON ISLAMABAD TO ADDRESS ITS DIFFERENCES WITH NEW DELHI IN A "RATIONAL AND REALISTIC MANNER". /// INSERT VAJPAYEE ACT /// INDIA HAS CONSISTENTLY UNDERLINED ITS COMMITMENT TO A DIRECT, COMPOSITE DIALOGUE WITH PAKISTAN. SUCH A COMPREHENSIVE AND SUSTAINED PROCESS WILL CONTRIBUTE TRUST AND CONFIDENCE, PROMOTE MUTUALLY BENEFICIAL COOPERATION AND HELP ADDRESS BILATERAL ISSUES. THE DIALOGUE MUST ADDRESS THE TOTALITY OF THE RELATIONSHIP, AND NOT BE PURSUED IN A NARROW, SEGMENTED FASHION. /// END ACT /// MR. VAJPAYEE SAYS HE ASKED MR. SHARIF, DURING THEIR MEETING LAST WEEK IN COLOMBO, TO STOP SUPPORT TO THE MUSLIM REBELLION IN KASHMIR. INDIA ACCUSES PAKSITAN OF ARMING AND TRAINING KASHMIRI MILITANT GROUPS. ISLAMABAD DENIES THE CHARGE. EFFORTS BY INDIA AND PAKISTAN TO RESUME A DIALOGUE DEADLOCKED RECENTLY AFTER DIPLOMATS OF THE TWO COUNTRIES FAILED TO AGREE ON THE AGENDA OF THE TALKS. KASHMIR IS A DISPUTED TERRITORY DIVIDED BETWEEN INDIA AND PAKSITAN. THE NATIONS HAVE FOUGHT TWO WARS FOR CONTROL OF THE REGION. (SIGNED) NEB/RAE 03-Aug-98 8:22 AM EDT (1222 UTC) NNNN Source: Voice of America .