DATE=6/7/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-233478
TITLE=PAK BOMB (L)
BYLINE=ALI ZAIDI
DATELINE=ISLAMABAD
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  PAKISTAN IS BLAMING INDIA FOR A TRAIN BOMBING (SUNDAY) IN
SOUTHERN PAKISTAN THAT LEFT 23 PEOPLE DEAD AND MORE THAN 30 
INJURED.  INDIA DENIES THE CHARGES.  AS ALI ZAIDI REPORTS FROM 
ISLAMABAD -- THIS IS THE LATEST IN A SERIES OF BOMBINGS IN 
PAKISTAN IN RECENT DAYS.

TEXT:  A PAKISTAN FOREIGN MINISTRY STATEMENT LAID THE BLAME FOR 
THE TRAIN BOMBING SQUARELY ON INDIAN INTELLIGENCE AGENTS.

CALLING FOR THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY TO CONDEMN INDIA FOR THE 
BOMBING, THE FOREIGN MINISTRY SAYS SUCH ACTS OF TERRORISM COULD 
ENDANGER MOVES TO RESOLVE CONFLICTS IN THE REGION.

NEW DELHI REJECTED THE ACCUSATION FROM ISLAMABAD AS PREPOSTEROUS 
AND BASELESS -- WORDS INDIA HAS USED TO DENY PREVIOUS SIMILAR 
CHARGES BY PAKISTAN.

THE BOMB RIPPED THROUGH A CROSS-COUNTRY PASSENGER TRAIN IN 
SOUTHERN PAKISTAN EARLY SUNDAY AS MOST PASSENGERS SLEPT.  POLICE 
OFFICIALS SAY THE DEVICE WAS A TIME BOMB PROBABLY PLACED UNDER A 
SEAT IN THE CARRIAGE.  ONE TRAIN COMPARTMENT WAS DESTROYED, WHILE
TWO OTHERS WERE DAMAGED BY THE BLAST.

AUTHORITIES SAY THE DEATH TOLL COULD RISE, WITH SOME OF THE 
INJURED IN SERIOUS CONDITION.

PAKISTAN HAS ALSO ACCUSED INDIAN AGENTS OF BEING RESPONSIBLE FOR 
A BOMB EXPLOSION FRIDAY IN A LAHORE CINEMA THAT KILLED THREE 
PEOPLE.  AUTHORITIES SAY THEY HAVE IDENTIFIED A SUSPECT -- WHO 
WAS  INJURED IN THE EXPLOSION -- AS AN INDIAN NATIONAL WHO HAS 
CONFESSED TO CARRYING OUT SIMILAR TERRORIST ATTACKS IN THE PAST.

PAKISTAN WAS ROCKED BY A SERIES OF BOMBS ON PASSENGER TRAINS AND 
BUSES EARLIER THIS YEAR.  

INDIA AND PAKISTAN ROUTINELY ACCUSE EACH OTHER OF SPONSORING 
TERRORISM ON THEIR SOIL AS A WAY OF CREATING INSTABILITY.  BOTH 
SIDES DENY THE CHARGES.

TENSIONS BETWEEN PAKISTAN AND INDIA HAVE RISEN SINCE BOTH 
COUNTRIES EXPLODED NUCLEAR DEVICES LAST MONTH, DRAWING 
CONDEMNATION AND ECONOMIC SANCTIONS FROM THE INTERNATIONAL 
COMMUNITY.

THE TWO COUNTRIES HAVE FOUGHT THREE WARS IN THE LAST FIFTY YEARS,
TWO OF THEM OVER THE DISPUTED HIMALAYAN STATE OF KASHMIR.   
(SIGNED)

NEB/AZ/RAE

07-Jun-98 10:00 AM EDT (1400 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.