January 12, 2002	Saturday	Shawwal 27, 1422

WASHINGTON, Jan 11: US Secretary of State Colin Powell said on Friday he may visit Afghanistan next week as part of the tour of Asia that will include Pakistan, India and Japan.

Powell said he would like to speak with interim Afghan leader Hamid Karzai and other officials to determine how best to marshal aid for the country’s reconstruction as well as to thank Afghan employees of the US embassy in Kabul who maintained the abandoned property over the years. “That’s another reason for a potential trip,” Powell said.—AFP