NEW DELHI: South African President Nelson Mandela avoided taking sides in the Indo-Pakistani dispute on Kashmir by declaring that “we have confidence in the leadership of the two countries. They have the will and the capacity to address and solve the problem.”

Addressing a press conference on the last day of his four day stay in India, Mandela refused to answer a question whether he considered the Kashmiris struggle a liberation struggle or terrorism, saying he had nothing to add to what he had already said. The question supplemented an earlier question about India and South Africa resolving to fight international crime and terrorism. He had then said terrorism was one of the types of international crime that the two countries agreed to fight though the definition of terrorism was not the same as advanced by the colonial powers.

Mandela’s answer clearly reflected his resolve not to get involved in a controversy on this issue as his government has good relations with Pakistan also and would gain nothing by taking sides in the Mayer. Significantly, unlike most others, he made no men of either the UN resolutions or the Shimla accord.

Three accords between India and South Africa arc in the offing, according to Vinod Grover, secretary (west) in the ministry of external affairs One will be an omnibus agreement for combating terrorism and illicit trafficking in drugs, which will also cover the extradition clause. The other Iwo agreements will be on cooperation in the fields of silence and technology and tourism.

Describing his visit as “very successful.” he said the purpose of his visit was to strengthen ties between the two countries that have existed since 1861, when Indians first landed on the South African shores. He expressed satisfaction at the signing of the three agreements between India and South Africa during his visit

Asked about the proposal to set up an organization of Indian Ocean rim countries and if this could be turned into a successful trade bloc, Mandela expressed optimism saying such a to do blocking be established and South Africa can make considerable contribution to it. His country, he said is a potentially rich country with a good infrastructure, it was rich in natural wealth and as far as the white minacity was concerned, South Africa was one of the advanced countries of the world.

A meeting of senior officials of seven Indian Ocean rim countries is going to be held at the end of March in Mauritius The idea is still in an baryonic stage and it is not clear what type of an organization would eventually emerge. The South African view on the issue, as briefly articulated by its foreign minister A. Nzo in his meeting with minister of state for external affairs Salman Khurshid, was that the most effective form of cooperation at present would be in sect oral areas. It is generally felt that for a trade bloc of the Indian Ocean rim countries to succeed, strong bilateral trade ties are needed before moving into a multilateral trade bloc

Answering another question, Mandela said India was always ready to assist the South African democratic movement and had assured its help in his government’s massive Reconstruction and Development Program (RDP).

Asked about cooperation in the field of defence, the South African Prudent said this issue was not discussed in his meetings with the Indian leaders. He mentioned a defence exhibition in his country recently, which had international representation, including from India. He said if India wanted some equipment, that could be negotiated.

Article extracted from this publication >> February 3, 1995