INDIA/PAKISTAN/USA: THE UNITED STATES APPEAL FOR RESTRAINT AND DIALOGUE BY INDIA AND PAKISTAN AFTER INDIA SHOT DOWN A PAKISTANI MILITARY PLANE

Record ID: 858219

  • Title: INDIA/PAKISTAN/USA: THE UNITED STATES APPEAL FOR RESTRAINT AND DIALOGUE BY INDIA AND PAKISTAN AFTER INDIA SHOT DOWN A PAKISTANI MILITARY PLANE
  • Date: 11th August 1999
  • Summary: UNIDENTIFIED LOCATION, PAKISTAN-INDIA BORDER AREA (AUGUST 10, 1999) (REUTERS) LV SOLDIERS LOOKING AT DOWNED PLANE SV SMOULDERING WRECKAGE
  • Embargoed: 26th August 1999 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: NEW DELHI, INDIA/ UNIDENTIFED LOCATION, INDIA-PAKISTAN BORDER/ WASHINGTON, D.C., UNITED STATES/UNITED NATIONS
  • City:
  • Country: USA
  • Topics: Conflict,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVACBIDTMJAZ3CFKXSSTX5QUMWA4
  • Aspect Ratio:
  • Story Text: The United States appealed for restraint and dialogue by India and Pakistan on Tuesday (August 10) after India shot down a Pakistani military plane.At the United Nations, Secretary General Kofi Annan urged the two countries to refrain from any military escalation.
    After hearing conflicting reports about a Pakistani plane shot down by India on Tuesday (August 10), the United States urged the two sides to show some restraint.
    State Department spokesman James Rubin said U.S.officials were making the appeal to the two governments while trying to find out exactly what happened.
    "In ascertaining the facts, the message that we will be sending and probably have sent by now is to urge restraint, because we don't want to see the situation grow and we want the two sides to resolve their differences through dialogue,"
    he told his daily briefing.
    India said earlier that one of its air force combat jets shot down the Pakistani anti-submarine and reconnaissance aircraft with a missile off the coast of the western state of Gujarat at 11:15 a.m.(0545 GMT).
    Pakistan said the unarmed plane was brought down within its own territory while on a routine training flight.It accused India of "cold-blooded murder" of the 16 people aboard and took reporters to see the wreckage inside Pakistani territory.
    The State Department said it could not tell which version of events was correct and might not announce its findings even if it did come to a conclusion.
    At the White House, National Security Spokesman David Leavy told reporters that the Clinton administration was concerened about the increased tensions between India and Pakistan.
    " We are urging restraint and prudence," said Leavy.
    "Clearly no one benefits from the rise on tensions and when there is an abscense of dialogue between the two sides, instances like this can take place."
    At the United Nations, Pakistan's new ambassador to the United Nations presented his credentials to the U.N.Secretary General, Kofi Annan and spoke of the incident.
    After his official meeting with Annan, Inam ul Haque spoke to Reuters Television
    "As a result of this unprovoked and callous attack 16 innocent people have lost their lives.We have lodged a strong protest with the Indian High Commissioner in Islamabad.We hope that the interntional community will take due note of this unprovoked aggression by Indian military aircraft against an unarmed aircraft of Pakistan"
    Ul Haque said that Pakistan's Foreign Minister has sent letters to both the Secretary General and the Security Council President outlining the unprovoked attack by India.
    Kofi Annan called on both sides to act calmy and with restraint and hoped their would not be any escalation of hositilities in the region.
    At least 16 people were killed on Tuesday (August 10) when the Pakistani plane was shot down by Indian jets near the border with India.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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