Return to Transcripts main page
CNN Live Today
United States Urges Americans to Leave India
Aired May 31, 2002 - 12:35 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL LIN, CNN ANCHOR: The U.S. is urging all nonessential diplomatic workers and citizens to leave India, as tensions in the region continue to spiral out of control. Pakistan today is redeploying more troops to its border with India.
CNN's Tom Mintier tagged along with some troops to a village already hit hard by the conflict.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
TOM MINTIER, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The village of Hajira doesn't look like the frontlines, but it isn't far away, just 8 or 9 kilometers from the line of control. The peace and quiet has been shattered.
This jeep was hit by Indian artillery. Four passengers were killed instantly by one shell that landed on the side of the road. It still sits where it was hit. Angry villagers gather to vent their feelings. "The Indian people," he says, "they don't want this. It is only the government."
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: If the India started the war, then we will fight back bravely. Nobody is going to afraid.
MINTIER: The trip here was organized by the Pakistani government. It claims that civilians were targeted by Indian guns. A military supply depot nearby. But despite that, the army says it was not a target.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And this is, of course, the super heavy mortars, 160 millimeter.
MINTIER: This is the evidence, they say: the tail fins of mortars and rockets, all, they say, rained down on the village by the Indian military.
(on camera): One of the stops on the government-sponsored tour was a visit with the relatives of those killed in the shelling, relatives who say they are not angry but proud.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We are happy that he has laid down his life for the country.
MINTIER (voice-over): But at this gathering, one man came up to me privately and said he would be happier if both sides pulled their armies out of Kashmir. "There would be peace then," he said. The soldiers are here. Just how many is a secret. All the commander would say is, he has enough do his job.
BRIG. MUMTAZ BAJWA, PAKISTANI ARMY: I have sufficient troops. And whenever I need them, I'm sure I will get.
MINTIER: The president of Pakistani Kashmir was also here, asking for dialogue, but also saying, if war breaks out:
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We do not want that this region should be plunged into war. But if the war is thrust on us, what is happening to us, what should we do? We are going to retaliate. Presently, we are retaliating. But if somebody attacks and the civil population is targeted, our area is targeted, we will defend it very resolutely.
MINTIER: The soldiers and politicians talk tough. People who live here and have for generations wait and wonder. War may not be declared, but the battle has once again come to their front door.
Tom Mintier, CNN, in the village of Hajira in Pakistani Kashmir.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LIN: And, of course, there is growing concern that India is arming some of its missiles with conventional warheads in preparation with war with Pakistan. Well, CNN's New Delhi bureau chief, Satinder Bindra, looks at the likelihood the conflict could turn nuclear.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SATINDER BINDRA, CNN NEW DELHI BUREAU CHIEF (voice-over): Several Indian defense strategists tell CNN New Delhi has been moving dozens of its missiles to forward areas along the India-Pakistan border. These analysts also say they believe recent reports emanating from Washington that suggest India is in the process of arming its missiles with conventional warheads.
DR. BRAHMA CHELLANEY, STRATEGIC ANALYST: That missiles are being moved to forward positions is something that even the Indian press has been reporting, because officials have been leaking that information for a number of days to the national media here.
BINDRA: So, why leak such sensitive information? Analysts suggest it is all part of military strategy to warn Pakistan, which recently tested three missiles of its own, that, if it launches a missile strike, India is ready to retaliate.
Other than conventional warheads, it's estimated India may have up to 150 nuclear warheads. Pakistan is believed to possess 50 such weapons. Compared to India, Pakistan's armed forces are much smaller, which is why Pakistan's ambassador to the U.N. is warning, Islamabad can use nuclear weapons if attacked. India says such talk from General Pervez Musharraf's regime is -- quote -- "highly irresponsible."
GEORGE FERNANDES, INDIAN DEFENSE MINISTER: He who wants to use a nuclear weapon against any other nuclear-weaponized country must be willing to take back the same thing, with interest. And he should be knowing it. I'm sure he doesn't want to kill all the Pakistanis.
BINDRA: India has always maintained it will never use nuclear weapons first. But given Pakistan's stance, some analysts believe India is reexamining its no first-use policy. A recent Pentagon report says nuclear war here could kill between 9 million and 12 million people. Still, India maintains it's keeping open all its military options against Pakistan.
(on camera): And, as far as the nuclear dimension to any hostilities is concerned, some Indian planners are hoping U.S. forces already stationed inside Pakistan will forewarn them of any possible nuclear strike, another reason New Delhi is looking to consolidate its already strong military relationship with Washington.
Satinder Bindra, CNN, New Delhi.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
