Date= 6/2/2002

Type=BACKGROUND REPORT

Title= INDIA / PAK / CHICAGO

Number=5-51731

Byline=MICHAEL LELAND

Dateline=CHICAGO

Content=

Voiced At:

INTRO: Thousands of Indian and Pakistani immigrants in the United States are anxiously watching developments in their native lands. Many say they are concerned about what will happen to their friends and relatives back home if full-scale war breaks out. V-O-A's Michael Leland has more from Chicago.

TEXT: /// PARADE ACT ///

Saturday in Chicago was the day for the local observance of Vaisakhi, a harvest festival that represents the start of the Sikh New Year. Shiva Singh Khalsa of Chicago says it also marks the creation of the Khalsa in 1699.

/// KHALSA ACT 1 ///

It was a spiritual family that had no caste, no gender differences and accepted anyone to be a part of it. It was basically a group of people who were committed to serve the community.

/// END ACT ///

Community was the theme of this Vaisakhi parade and festival, in a Chicago neighborhood where many Indians and Pakistanis live.

/// KHALSA ACT 2 ///

It was designed to invite, Pakistanis, Hindu Indians, Punjabis and all these people who practice different faiths and write different languages but their culture and food is all identical.

/// END ACT ///

While India and Pakistan remain on the brink of war, many people who have moved to Chicago from those countries, such as Mohinderjit Singh Saini, say they are still hopeful this latest crisis can be resolved peacefully.

/// SAINI ACT 1 ///

We do not feel good about what is happening at this moment. That is what is happening there. We do not want war to happen. We pray that something good comes and there is no war. We pray for peace.

/// END ACT ///

This Indian immigrant, who asked us not to use his name, said some people back home think war might be necessary to resolve the dispute over Kashmir.

/// MAN ACT ///

A lot of people, Indians, a lot of Indians want war. They want to finish this one way or the other. Too many innocent people die every day now.

/// END ACT ///

Several people here say they speak often with friends and relatives back home. Rama Tauseef has family in Pakistan.

/// TAUSEEF ACT 1 ///

They are scared, too. They are scared.

/// END ACT ///

But he says despite troop movements and Pakistani missile tests in recent days, war can still be avoided thanks to outside help, in part from United States officials.

/// TAUSEEF ACT 2 ///

It (war) is close too but I do not think so, because American (Deputy Secretary of State) Richard Armitage is going there and the other guy, (Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld) is going there.

/// END ACT ///

The United States is among several countries advising their citizens to leave India and Pakistan. Mr. Saini is not sure that advisory is necessary, but thinks it might help promote peace.

/// SAINI ACT 2 ///

To some extent it is overreacting, but it is also a good policy to put pressure on both India and Pakistan so that they will think about not going into war and handle it diplomatically.

/// END ACT ///

Chicago's Sikh population is especially concerned about the possibility of an Indian-Pakistani war, not just because India is their native country, but also because the home state of many Sikhs, Punjab, is on the Pakistani border. (signed)

NEB/MJL/RH