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Vajpayee protests Mandela's reference to Kashmir

Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee has lodged a strong protest with South African President Dr Nelson Mandela for his uncalled for remarks on Jammu and Kashmir issue during his speech at the inauguration of the Non-Aligned Movement summit in Durban yesterday.

Vajpayee conveyed India's sentiment when he met the South African President at a state banquet hosted by him in honour of heads of delegations of the 11 member countries of NAM.

The prime minister told Dr Mandela in clear-cut terms that the reference to Kashmir issue in the NAM forum was totally unacceptable and such a thing had never happened in the past.

Dr Mandela, however, did not respond to Vajpayee's protest.

The South African president who took over as NAM chairman in his inaugural speech said, ''All of us remain concerned that the issue of Jammu and Kashmir should be solved through peaceful negotiations and should be willing to lend all the strength we have to the resolution of this matter."

Indian government sources said the purpose of lodging the protest with Dr Mandela was to record India's disappointment at the uncharitable remarks on the Kashmir issue.

It was not a scheduled meeting and hence there was no response from the South African side.

The Indian government categorically stated that Kashmir is an integral part of India and that it was opposed to any third-party intervention on this issue. The issue is purely in the ambit of bilateral sphere. India's position in this regard is known to everyone, including South Africa.

Vajpayee, who is scheduled to address the NAM summit tomorrow, is expected to give a fitting response to Dr Mandela's statement.

UNI

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