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To: Bobby Yellin who wrote (21404)	10/11/1998 2:02:00 PM
From: goldsnow	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 116893

Talking about India.... Indian exercises spark fears of war By Julian West in New Delhi INDIA is secretly planning military exercises for 100,000 troops next month on its border with Pakistan. The manoeuvres will sharply raise tensions in the region. The huge military exercise follows last week's reports of the first armed clashes between Pakistan's neighbours Iran and Afghanistan. The last military manoeuvres held on such a scale, in 1987, brought India and Pakistan to the brink of all-out war. Military strategists fear that, with the two countries having missiles and nuclear potential, the exercises could spark off another conflict. Details of the manoeuvres, deploying land, sea and air troops in the Rajasthan desert and the Arabian Sea, have been kept secret. But according to Western intelligence sources, several army divisions will mass on the sensitive border next month for two weeks of simulated war games. They will be supported by tanks, heavy artillery, helicopters and jet fighters in addition to, possibly, India's short-range Prithvi missiles. Back-up will be provided by battleships, aircraft carriers and probably submarines positioned off the coast of India and Pakistan. India's Defence Ministry last week confirmed that the manoeuvres will take place but described them as "scheduled routine training exercises". There is little doubt, however, that they come at a sensitive time. Talks between India and Pakistan resume this week when their foreign secretaries meet in Islamabad, the Pakistani capital. Further meetings will follow in India's capital, New Delhi, next month. Despite professed goodwill on both sides, the talks will take place in an atmosphere of extreme rancour over Kashmir. India and Pakistan have fought two of their three wars over Kashmir and since their nuclear tests in May furious rhetoric has been traded over the disputed state. Tensions rose sharply in August, as both sides exchanged heavy fire across the dividing Line of Control, and India bitterly accused Pakistan of backing terrorism in its territory. Although Indian and Pakistani troops have now settled into a pattern of sporadic exchanges across the LOC, India continues to be incensed by Pakistan-sponsored militant activity in the state. Last month Pakistan was considerably embarrassed when its relationship with one Kashmiri group, Harkat ul Mujahideen, which is believed to be responsible for murdering six tourists in Kashmir in 1995, emerged after American missile attacks partially destroyed the Harkat training camp in eastern Afghanistan. Western diplomats in Islamabad say that militant activity in Pakistani Kashmir is on the increase and India's home minister has threatened to take "pro-active steps" to deal with the situation. In such an atmosphere India's military manoeuvres are viewed with alarm by Western observers, who fear that India might use the exercises to launch an airstrike against a militant training camp in Pakistani Kashmir. They further fear that Pakistan, heavily outnumbered by India's army in both manpower and weaponry, may be tempted to face-off its rival with similar exercises, involving nuclear weapons. According to the October edition of Jane's Intelligence Review, India is capable of building 455 atom bombs and Pakistan 105. Within the next decade, India may be able to produce at least 800 atom bombs and Pakistan, more than 200. Both countries have operational short range missiles, capable of striking each other's targets. Pakistan recently received fresh shipments of weapons material, including warhead canisters for its recently-tested Ghauri missile, from North Korea. India and Pakistan are forging ahead with missile delivery systems for their nuclear weapons. telegraph.co.uk

To: Bobby Yellin who wrote (21404)	10/11/1998 2:39:00 PM
From: goldsnow	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 116893

I bet you if NATO get involved in Kosovo that would open a gate for some to settle a score...Dangerous times.. The Turkish Prime Minister, Mesut Yilmaz, has issued the strongest warning yet against Syria for its alleged support for Kurdish separatist forces. Mr Yilmaz said that Turkey had a duty to "poke out the eyes" of Syria unless it stops harbouring Kurdish rebels. The semi-official Turkish news agency, Anatolia, quoted Mr Yilmaz as saying it was Turkey's duty to, as he put it, bring Syria's world tumbling down if Damascus didn't come to its senses. Undeclared war Turkey accuses Syria of waging an "undeclared war" by backing Kurdish separatist guerrillas fighting for autonomy in the south-east over the past 14 years. Syria denies the charge. "If Syria did not shelter the head of the bandits, if it did not set up camps and give money then it would not be possible for this separatist bandit to continue his path," Mr Yilmaz said. "Our primary duty is to uproot this bandit. We are determined to do this, we are sworn." The Turkish President's statement dramatically raises the stakes in the growing crisis with its neighbour. International mediation efforts Correspondents say the warning comes after what appeared to be an easing of the tension between the two countries following a mediation effort by Egypt whose foreign minister, Amr Moussa, is expected in Ankara on Monday. The Iranian Foreign Minister, Kamal Kharrazi, has also made efforts to mediate in the dispute. On Friday, the Turkish Foreign Minister, Ismail Cem, wrote to his Arab counterparts accusing Syria of trying to incite the Arab world against Turkey with false information. Syria has been at the forefront of a chorus of criticism of Turkey for its growing defence relationship with Israel. Turkish leaders have threatened military action if Syria does not hand over Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) leader Abdullah Ocalan, widely thought to live in Damascus. Foreign governments, including the United States, have expressed concern that any violent conflict could rapidly spread in a notoriously unstable region. news.bbc.co.uk