DATE=11/12/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-241558
TITLE=INDIA-TERRORISM (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=DOUGLAS BAKSHIAN
DATELINE=NEW DELHI
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:  

INTRO: PAKISTAN AND INDIA HELD TALKS IN NEW DELHI THURSDAY ON 
TERRORISM AND DRUG TRAFFICKING, AS PART OF A LARGER DIALOGUE TO 
EASE TENSIONS. VOA CORRESPONDENT DOUGLAS BAKSHIAN HAS MORE ON THE
STORY FROM THE INDIAN CAPITAL.

TEXT: TERRORISM IS AN IMPORTANT ISSUE FOR BOTH INDIA AND 
PAKISTAN, WITH BOTH NATIONS ACCUSING EACH OTHER OF CAUSING 
CROSS-BORDER UNREST AND VIOLENCE.  BRAHMA CHELLANEY, OF NEW 
DELHI'S CENTER FOR POLICY RESEARCH, SAYS INDIA HAS VERY SPECIFIC 
CONCERNS.

                             //  CHELLANEY ACT // 

 TERRORISM IS A MAJOR ISSUE FOR INDIA BECAUSE OF PAKISTAN'S OPEN 
SUPPORT FOR THE KASHMIRI EXTREMISTS WHO ARE WAGING AN INSURGENCY 
AGAINST INDIA IN THE KASHMIR VALLEY AND ALSO BECAUSE PAKISTAN, IN
THE PAST, HAS AIDED AND ABETTED INDIAN MILITANTS IN THE PUNJAB 
AND ELSEWHERE IN INDIA.  IN FACT, ACCORDING TO A RECENT REPORT BY
THE INDIAN INTERIOR MINISTRY, ALMOST ONE THIRD OF THE DISTRICTS 
IN INDIA ARE AFFECTED BY INTERNAL DISORDER, UNREST, OR 
INSURGENCY.       

                               //  END ACT //

PAKISTAN SAYS IT GIVES ONLY DIPLOMATIC AND POLITICAL SUPPORT TO 
KASHMIRI MILITANTS, AND DENIES ARMING AND TRAINING THE FIGHTERS. 
KASHMIR IS A DISPUTED TERRITORY OVER WHICH PAKISTAN AND INDIA 
HAVE FOUGHT TWO WARS.  

ISLAMABAD, FOR ITS PART, ACCUSES INDIA OF STIRRING UP TROUBLE IN 
KARACHI, PAKISTAN'S LARGEST CITY AND ECONOMIC CAPITAL. KARACHI 
SUFFERS PERIODIC OUTBREAKS OF VIOLENCE BETWEEN RIVAL POLITICAL, 
ETHNIC, AND RELIGIOUS GROUPS. PAKISTAN ALSO FREQUENTLY BLAMES 
INDIA FOR BOMBINGS IN THE PAKISTANI SIDE OF PUNJAB PROVINCE.

ON THE TOPIC OF DRUG TRAFFICKING, PAKISTAN HAS IN THE PAST 
ACCUSED INDIA OF  BEING THE SOURCE OF CHEMICALS USED IN THE 
MANUFACTURE OF NARCOTICS.  INDIA  DENIES THIS.  DRUG EXPERTS SAY 
PAKISTAN ITSELF HAS PROBLEMS WITH OPIUM TRAFFICKING FROM 
AFGHANISTAN AS WELL AS OPIUM TRADE IN PAKISTAN'S REMOTE TRIBAL 
AREAS. 

PAKISTAN AND INDIA CONCLUDE THIS ROUND OF TALKS FRIDAY WITH A 
DISCUSSION OF CULTURAL EXCHANGES BETWEEN THE COUNTRIES. THE TALKS
BEGAN NOVEMBER FIFTH COVERING TOPICS INCLUDING WATER DISPUTES, 
TRADE, AND THE HEAVILY MILITARIZED SIACHEN GLACIER. PAKISTAN, 
HOWEVER, SAYS THERE CAN  BE NO MOVEMENT ON THESE ISSUES UNTIL 
THERE IS PROGRESS ON KASHMIR, THE CORE DISPUTE BETWEEN THE 
NATIONS.  (SIGNED)





NEB/DAB/PLM

12-Nov-98 6:31 AM EST (1131 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.