January 11, 2003	Saturday	Ziqa'ad 7, 1423

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ISLAMABAD, Jan 10: US secretary of State Colin Powell in a telephonic conversation with Foreign Minister Khurshid Mehmood Kasuri on Friday assured him that he would take up the issue of Pakistanis’ registration with the Attorney General.

This assurance was held out to Kasuri when he raised the issue with Mr Powell, referring to reports of Pakistanis being harassed and discriminated against in the process.

Mr Powell who discussed with Kasuri among other things his upcoming visit to the United States made the telephone call.

During the 30-minute conversation the two officials discussed issues relevant to relations between the two countries particularly the registration issue, said a statement issued here by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Friday.

Mr Kasuri conveyed to his US counterpart that the issue of Pakistanis registration in the US had caused much anxiety and despondency amongst the Pakistanis both in the US and in Pakistan. While accepting the legitimate US concerns about its security, Mr Kasuri pointed out that the US law was meant only for registration not harassment, the statement said.

Mr Kasuri told Mr Powell that Pakistanis in the US were largely economic migrants and had dependents to look after. Maintaining that Pakistanis were peace-loving immigrants with strong family values, Mr Kasuri drew the attention of United States secretary of State to the fact that not a single Pakistani was involved in the unfortunate 9/11 terror attacks.