President Asif Ali Zardari Recalls Historic Anti-Apartheid Stance While Greeting South Africa on National Day

President Zardari greets Cyril Ramaphosa on National Day, recalling Pakistan's historic 1948 refusal to recognize the apartheid regime.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 28, 2026, 3:03 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from Pakistan Today

Diplomatic Felicitations From Beijing

President Asif Ali Zardari has conveyed his official greetings to South African President Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa and the South African people in honor of their National Day. The message was issued on Monday while President Zardari was in the midst of a five-day state visit to China. Representing the government and citizens of Pakistan, the President emphasized that his nation places a high level of importance on maintaining and expanding its friendly relations with South Africa.

A Principled Rejection of Apartheid

The President used the occasion to reflect on the deep historical roots of the Pakistan-South Africa relationship, specifically noting Pakistan's early opposition to institutionalized racism. Zardari recalled that as early as 1948, Pakistan took a principled stand by refusing to recognize the apartheid regime. This diplomatic boycott was a cornerstone of Pakistan's foreign policy for decades, aligning the country with the liberation movements seeking to end minority rule in the southern African nation.

Legacy of the Restricted Passport Stamp

In a poignant reference to the past, President Zardari noted that older generations of Pakistanis still remember the specific stamp once found in national passports. This endorsement explicitly stated that the travel document was not valid for travel to apartheid South Africa or Israel. This restriction remained a mandatory feature of Pakistani passports until 1994, the year South Africa successfully transitioned to a multi-racial democracy and dismantled the apartheid system.