NEW DELHI: At the end of the five-day visit of the British shadow foreign and Labor Party MP Gerald Kauffman to New Delhi and Jammu and Kashmir the government seems unsure how to assess it.

The remarks of the Home Minister S B. Chayan in the Lok Sabha on Monday when referred to him as half-man indicate that Kauffman’s strong views on the Kashmir issue have ruffled some feathers in the govt. The foreign office on the other hand maintains that whatever the outcome of the visit it was necessary diplomatic initiative to counter Pakistani propaganda on Kashmir Kauffman whose constituency in Britain has a large number of Kashmiri migrants is known for his soft attitude towards Kashmiri militants and what the Indian foreign ministry feels is a pro Pakistan viewpoint. Sources pointed out that at least now the labor MP who will be the foreign minister of the UK one day has heard India’s point of view on this sensitive issue and has had the opportunity to visit Kashmir to see for himself the situation on the ground.

The visit seemed innocuous Kauffman came at the invitation of the Govt of India on what was termed a goodwill visit. The importance attached to it however was obvious in the fact that the Labor leader is perhaps the first foreign dignitary to be allowed access to the troubled state of Kashmir in recent months

He spent two days in the Valley speaking to state govt authorities including the Governor Girish Saxena and human rights groups and public figures in sensitive areas like Baramulla and Kupwara. He also spent a day in Jammu visiting the migrant camps to hear the other side of the story.

In Delhi he met the Prime Minister Narasimha Rao the External Affairs Minister Madhavsinh Solanki and the Home Minister Chavan.

Whatever the courtesies extended to the Labor leader Chavan made it quite clear from his remarks in the Lok Sabha that he was extremely unhappy about Kauffman’s visit. He expressed surprise over the labor MP’s statements on Kashmir pointing out that his talk of a picbiscite in Kashmir and the need to internationalize the issue was contrary to the position taken by the UK govt. The conservative govt in the UK has been quite sympathetic to the Indian point of view Chavan said.

Kauffman is also on record asking the people of Kashmir to pressurize the Governments of India and Pakistan for a negotiated settlement to the issue and he offered his support in this. In addition he is reported to have urged the Indian govt during his talks with leaders in New Delhi to accept the good offices of the Commonwealth to resolve the problem as it was no longer a bilateral issue between India and Pakistan

The controversy generated within the govt over Kauffman’s remarks on Kashmir prompted the foreign office to try and set the record straight on Tuesday. The spokesman made it a point to clarify that the prime minister had not accepted Kauffman’s offer of the good offices of the Commonwealth

He said it was made clear to the Labor MP that Kashmir is an part of India and while India is willing to enter into negotiations with Pakistan to resolve the dispute there is no question of accepting anyone’s media tory role or outside help.

The fact of the matter is that Chavan’s remarks have resulted in some red faces in the ministry of External Affairs which is keeping its fingers crossed that the Labor leader will not take strong exception to them. ;

Officials pointed out that after all Kauffman’s views on Kashmir are well known and his visit should be seen as a part of a continuing diplomatic initiative on Kashmir or as the spokesman put it in pursuance of the high level contacts traditionally maintained with the Labor party.

According to foreign ministry officials the visit should not be viewed in the context of a diplomatic success or failure But they admitted that the fallout of the present controversy would become clear only when Kauffman says something on Kashmir back in the UK

Article extracted from this publication >> August 23, 1991