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CNN Sunday Morning

Tensions Up After Pakistan Launches Second Test Missile

Aired May 26, 2002 - 09:05   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.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Tension between Pakistan and India is up another notch after Islamabad's second missile test in two days. New Delhi Bureau Chief Satinder Bindra joins us now live with more details. Satinder.

SATINDER BINDRA, CNN NEW DELHI BUREAU CHIEF: Good morning, Kyra. Publicly the Indians are dismissing these missile tests as "antics," but privately Indian diplomats are very concerned. They're calling these tests provocative. They're also very angry and upset with the international response to these tests so far. Washington called these tests disappointing, but New Delhi perhaps expecting some harsher condemnation.

Kyra the Indian prime minister has just spoken. He has addressed a public rally and he says India's patience is running out. He said that India will not tolerate what New Delhi calls cross-border terrorism from Pakistan; the Indian prime minister also appealing to the international community to help India combat terrorism.

Now this is a cry and a plea that's being heeded to by the international community. In the next few days, the British Foreign Secretary, Mr. Jack Straw and the U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Mr. Richard Armitage will be in the region.

Now both these diplomats, Kyra, come at a very tense time. Both India and Pakistan have deployed hundreds of thousands of soldiers along their border and for the past several days, there's been intense across border shelling. Indian authorities, Kyra, are telling me in the last 24 hours, five Indians have been killed and I'm also getting reports here in New Delhi that up to 50,000 Indians along the border region have been displaced, now back to you.

PHILLIPS: All right, Satinder Bindra. One quick question for you, the Indian side of course, we must be balanced. What are you hearing? Are these two countries headed for war?

BINDRA: Well from the Indian side, when you talk to diplomats here, they are waiting, of course, for the visit of Mr. Richard Armitage. You talk to the army and the army is acting very, very tough. They made some aggressive military moves in the past few days.

The Indian Navy has moved up towards the Arabian Sea, towards waters that India shares with Pakistan, and the general feeling of military analysts here is military action could be coming to this region very soon. Kyra.

PHILLIPS: All right, Satinder Bindra, thank you so much.

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