DATE=7/14/98 
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT 
NUMBER=2-235425
TITLE=INDIA/DEFENSE (L-O)
BYLINE=ANJANA PASRICHA
DATELINE=NEW DELHI 
CONTENT= 
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  INDIAN DEFENSE AUTHORITIES HAVE ORGANIZED AN EXHIBITION 
IN NEW DELHI DISPLAYING WEAPONS WHICH THEY SAY WERE SUPPLIED BY 
PAKISTAN TO KASHMIRI SEPARATISTS.  ANJANA PASRICHA REPORTS THE 
EXHIBITION IS PART OF A STEPPED-UP PUBLICITY CAMPAIGN BY INDIA TO
BACK OFFICIAL CLAIMS THE KASHMIRI INSURGENCY IS SUPPORTED BY 
ARCH-RIVAL PAKISTAN. 

TEXT:  PRIME MINISTER ATAL BEHARI VAJPAYEE INAUGURATED AN 
EXHIBITION TUESDAY IN WHICH INDIAN SOLDIERS LINED UP STACKS OF 
RIFLES, ANTI-TANK MINES, EXPLOSIVES AND OTHER WEAPONS.  
AUTHORITIES SAY THE ARMY SEIZED THESE WEAPONS FROM KASHMIRI 
SEPARATISTS DURING THE PAST DECADE.

SENIOR CABINET MINISTERS, DIPLOMATS, AND LAWMAKERS WERE INVITED 
FOR THE EVENT. DEFENSE MINISTER GEORGE FERNANDES SAYS THE 
EXHIBITION IS MEANT TO SHOW THE THREAT INDIA FACES FROM PAKISTAN 
IN KASHMIR.

                      /// FERNANDES ACT ///

  I FELT THAT LAWMAKERS IN DELHI AND THE PEOPLE OF INDIA, AND 
ALSO THE REST OF THE WORLD SHOULD GET TO SEE, GET TO KNOW,M THE 
KIND OF SITUATION THAT PREVAILS IN KASHMIR.

                    /// END FERNANDES ACT ///

NEW DELHI ACCUSES PAKISTAN OF AIDING THE KASHMIRI REBELLION BY 
TRAINING AND ARMING MUSLIM SEPARATISTS.  PAKISTAN DENIES THIS -- 
AND SAYS IT OFFERS ONLY MORAL AND DIPLOMATIC SUPPORT TO THE 
KASHMIRI PEOPLE.

// OPT //  A DOCUMENT DISTRIBUTED AT THE EXHIBITION BY THE ARMY 
SAYS PAKISTAN'S STRATEGY IN KASHMIR IS TO BLEED INDIA THROUGH A 
"THOUSANDS CUTS", REDUCE INDIA'S CONVENTIONAL ARMS SUPERIORITY 
AND EXPAND MILITANCY TO OTHER STATES.  // END OPT //

BUT, DEFENSE MINISTER FERNANDES ALSO SAYS THE SEPARATIST 
INSURGENCY IN THE KASHMIR VALLEY IS WANING. 

                 /// INSERT FERNANDES ACT  /// 

 IN SO FAR AS THE (KASHMIR) VALLEY IS CONCERNED, MILITANCY IS NOT
ONLY ON THE WANE, BUT I THINK IT IS NOW ON ITS LAST LEGS.  IN AS 
MUCH AS THE NORMAL PEOPLE'S LIFE IS MORE OR LESS NORMAL.  I WAS 
IN SRINAGAR RECENTLY, NOT ONCE BUT TWICE, THERE WERE TOURISTS IN 
THEIR THOUSANDS THERE, INDIAN AS WELL AS FOREIGN TOURISTS, AND 
OVERALL THE SITUATION I FOUND IN THE VALLEY WAS  -- IMPROVING IS 
NOT THE WORD -- IN CERTAIN AREAS IT WAS A VERY NORMAL SITUATION.

                    /// END FERNANDES ACT ///

INDIA AND PAKISTAN HAVE FOUGHT TWO WARS OVER THE DISPUTED KASHMIR
REGION, WHICH IS CLAIMED BY BOTH COUNTRIES.  HOSTILITIES BETWEEN 
THE NATIONS HAVE COME BACK INTO SHARP FOCUS AFTER THEY EACH 
CONDUCTED NUCLEAR TESTS.   (SIGNED)

NEB/RAE

14-Jul-98 9:16 AM EDT (1316 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.