DATE=7/23/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-235917
TITLE=PAK INDIA (L-CQ)
BYLINE=SARAH HORNER
DATELINE=ISLAMABAD
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 


INTRO:  PAKISTAN'S FOREIGN SECRETARY IS FLYING TO SRI LANKA 
THURSDAY NIGHT FOR A PRE-SUMMIT MEETING OF THE SOUTH ASIAN 
ASSOCIATION FOR REGIONAL COOPERATION (SAARC).  AS SARAH HORNER 
REPORTS, THE MEETING IS AIMED AT PAVING THE WAY FOR CRUCIAL TALKS
BETWEEN THE INDIAN AND PAKISTANI PRIME MINISTERS SCHEDULED TO 
TAKE PLACE ON THE SIDELINES OF A REGIONAL SUMMIT.

TEXT:  PAKISTAN'S FOREIGN MINISTRY SAYS FOREIGN SECRETARY, 
SHAMSHAD AHMAD, WILL MEET HIS INDIAN COUNTERPART IN THE SRI 
LANKAN CAPITAL, COLOMBO, AHEAD OF THE START OF THE ANNUAL SUMMIT 
OF THE SOUTH ASIAN ASSOCIATION FOR REGIONAL COOPERATION ON JULY 
29TH. 

IN ADDITION TO THE REGULAR SAARC BUSINESS, MR. AHMAD IS TO MAKE 
PREPARATIONS FOR A MEETING BETWEEN PAKISTANI PRIME MINISTER NAWAZ
SHARIF, AND INDIAN PRIME MINISTER ATAL BEHARI VAJPAYEE.  THE TWO 
ARE DUE TO MEET DURING THE SAARC SUMMIT IN AN EFFORT TO REVIVE A 
DIALOGUE BETWEEN THEIR COUNTRIES, STALLED SINCE LAST SEPTEMBER.

THE FOREIGN MINISTRY SAYS PAKISTAN HAS INDICATED ITS WILLINGNESS 
TO RESUME TALKS WITH NEIGHBORING INDIA AT THE FOREIGN SECRETARY 
LEVEL.  IT SAYS THE DIALOGUE MUST BE PUT BACK ON TRACK, IN VIEW 
OF WHAT IT CALLS THE DRASTICALLY TRANSFORMED ATMOSPHERE BECAUSE 
OF THE NUCLEARIZATION OF SOUTH ASIA.  

IN MAY, INDIAN AND PAKISTAN CONDUCTED RIVAL NUCLEAR TESTS, 
RAISING FEARS OF A NUCLEAR ARMS RACE IN THE REGION.  

SECRETARY AHMAD SPOKE TO REPORTERS FOLLOWING GOVERNMENT TALKS 
WITH U-S DEPUTY SECRETARY OF STATE, STROBE TALBOTT, WHO LEFT 
PAKISTAN THURSDAY.  HE SAID THE SAARC SUMMIT HAS ASSUMED ADDED 
SIGNIFICANCE IN THE WAKE OF RECENT DEVELOPMENTS -- AND HE 
REITTERATED THAT THE DISPUTED HIMALAYAN REGION OF JAMMU AND 
KASHMIR IS THE ROOT CAUSE OF TENSION BETWEEN INDIA AND PAKISTAN. 
.  

                         // AHMAD ACT //

         WE ARE GOING TO SEE HOW THE SITUATION EVOLVES THERE 
         (COLOMBO) BETWEEN OUR PRIME MINISTER AND THE INDIAN 
         **PRIME** MINISTER.  WE WANT TO SEE TO WHAT EXTENT THE 
         INDIANS ARE NOW READY TO RECIPROCATE OUR SINCERITY OF 
         PURPOSE IN ADDRESSING THE CORE ISSUE OF KASHMIR.  
         BECAUSE, UNLESS KASHMIR IS ADDRESSED MEANINGFULLY, 
         PURPOSEFULLY, WE BELIEVE THE CAUSE OF PEACE AND SECURITY
         IN THIS PART OF THE WORLD WILL REMAIN TOTALLY ELUSIVE. 

                          // END ACT //

INDIA AND PAKISTAN HAVE FOUGHT TWO WARS OVER KASHMIR SINCE 
BECOMING INDEPENDENT NATIONS IN 1947.  BOTH NATIONS CLAIM THE 
REGION, OF WHICH INDIA CONTROLS TWO-THIRDS AND PAKISTAN THE REST.

PAKISTAN WANTS INTERNATIONAL MEDIATION TO SOLVE THE ISSUE, SAYING
BILATERAL ATTEMPTS HAVE FAILED.  INDIA REJECTS THE IDEA AND 
MAINTAINS THAT THE KASHMIR ISSUE SHOULD BE RESOLVED BILATERALLY. 

THE UNITED NATIONS HAS A LONG-STANDING RESOLUTION ON KASHMIR 
WHICH CALLS FOR A FREE VOTE BY THE PEOPLE OF KASHMIR TO DECIDE 
THEIR FUTURE.  (SIGNED)

NEB/SLH/LTD/MMK

23-Jul-98 12:22 PM EDT (1622 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.