India Takes Lead In Kashmir
Indian fighter planes pounded guerrilla positions in a Himalayan battle zone Saturday amid government claims that rebels in some areas have been pushed back across the cease-fire line dividing Kashmir.
"The enemy intrusion and aggression ... has now been decisively turned back," Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee said after a meeting with his Cabinet and military commanders.
Both India and Pakistan claim Kashmir, a border region divided between the two countries, in its entirety.
India says its forces have pushed Islamic fighters in the Batalik area across the cease-fire line and have also cleared rebels from the town of Dras, but the military say they're suffering heavy losses on another part of the 110-mile-wide battlefront, the Mushkoh Valley.
Some 48 soldiers have been killed in that region in fighting Friday and Saturday. Many of the wounded were brought down the mountains on horses, stretchers, and helicopters.
Fighters also exchanged fire across the line in the Jammu province in southern Kashmir and at least 34 people were killed, Press Trust of India reported.
PTI said Indian troops retaliated after Pakistani soldiers shelled villages in the Poonch district Saturday, killing ten Pakistani soldiers, 24 guerrillas and four civilians.
"All the mujahedeen (holy warrior) groups have the unanimous position that they won't abandon their posts," Ahmed Hamza, a leader of the Al-Badar guerrilla group said.
Army spokesman Col. Bikram Singh said 670 Pakistani soldiers have been killed and more than 150 Islamic guerrillas have died since the fighting began in early May. Indian casualties stand at 327 killed, 493 wounded, and 10 missing, Singh said.
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| CBS News Military Affairs Consultant Mitch Mitchell |
Though Pakistan claims nothing more than moral and political support for the insurgents in Kashmir, there is overwhelming evidence that its leaders had been planning such a Kashmir offensive for two years, and its military forces are supporting the operation.
Pakistani leaders believe that predominantly Muslim Kashmir should be allowed to decide whether to be a part of predominantly Hindu India or predominantly Muslim Pakistan. India objects, claiming that all of Kashmir has been and should always be part of India.
 |  | Rivals for Kashmir | |
In the current conflict, Pakistan's strategic objectives are threefold.
- Rekindle insurgency by Kashmir Muslims.
- Bargain over Kashmir from a position of strength.
- International involvement in the dispute.
The U.S. Role
The U.S. has reaffirmed to Pakistan that the issue is one for India and Pakistan to decide, but it is willing to engage with both sides in meaningful dialogue, though not in the role of mediator.
Washington has made it clear to Islamabad that it is aware of Pakistan's maneuvering and disapproves. However, Washington is keen on getting both sides to negotiate.
The Road Ahead
Pakistan has accused India of refusing to talk, even though both countries have had secret exchanges of emissaries. It has warned India that there will be serious consequences if India widens the conflict.
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Knowing the consequences is often enough to deter a nation from using weapons of mass destruction. India and Pakistan know full well what those consequences would be. The issue is now in the hands of rational leaders whose more immediate concern is maintaining authority and control over their own military forces.
Pakistan's Failure
Pakistan is the likely loser in this conflict. The support it needs to achieve its three strategic objectives is simply not there. Now, as exhibitd by the still unheeded deal cut in Washington, Islamabad must continue its search to save face and extricate itself from the embarrassment of its thinly veiled subterfuge.
©1999 CBS Worldwide Corp. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report