(26 Oct 1999) English/Nat
United States Secretary of State Madeleine Albright has praised Pakistani leader Pervaiz Musharraf on Tuesday for withdrawing troops from the border with India, but called for India and Pakistan both to pull back in Kashmir.
Albright made the comments as reports of a clash between Indian and Pakistani troops along the Kashmir border emerged.
India said on Tuesday it repelled a border attack by Pakistani army troops, the most serious clash since a military coup in Pakistan two weeks ago.
Four Pakistani soldiers were killed on Monday when a squad tried to seize two posts in the mountainous Uri sector, according to an army statement from Srinagar, the summer capital of Indian Kashmir.
The U-S Secretary of State urged the two sides to do whatever they can to reduce tensions, during a joint news conference with visiting Dutch Foreign Minister Jozias van Aartsen.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"First of all let me say that Mr Musharraf made his statement had said that he would withdraw forces from the international border and as far as we know he has done that. This is unfortunately when there have been incidents on the line of control. And what we would hope very much is that both sides do what ever they can to reduce tensions and we have made that quite clear and obviously I have not had a detailed report on in terms of being able to verify what has, the specifics of what you asked. I think that the point here is that he did say that he was going to withdraw them from the international border, we would also like it done on the international line of control. But the issue is what I've said, this is the time of year, unfortunately when these kind of incidents do happen."
SUPER CAPTION: US Secretary of State, Madeleine Albright
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