January 22, 2003	Wednesday	Ziqa’ad 18, 1423

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UNITED NATIONS, Jan 21: US Secretary of State Colin Powell on Monday lauded Pakistan’s commitment to combating terrorism and hunting Al Qaeda elements.

He made the remarks during the UN Security Council meeting held to review global war on terrorism.

At a separate meeting with Foreign Minister Khurshid Mehmood Kasuri, Mr Powell held out the assurance that in case of registration of Pakistanis some “administrative discretion” could be applied sympathetically to review their cases.

But he declared in his comments to the press that the US would not give waiver to Pakistanis from the registration process.

“We have to secure our border, but we want to make sure our doors are open. And so those individuals who are here and who are here legally with proper documentation, have nothing to fear from these registration procedures.

There are some who do have concerns and I encourage them to step forward, register and resolve whatever out-of-status situation they may be in. There is a certain risk for that, but nobody should see this as something targeted against Pakistan. It’s an effort to know who is in our country and to secure our borders,” Mr Powell elaborated.

Asked what the US had done for Pakistan in return for becoming Americas’ number one ally in its war against terrorism, Mr Powell said: “I think we have done a great deal for Pakistan over the last roughly 16 months since 9/11.

We have removed a lot of obstacles to trade, we have provided Pakistan with additional access to markets, we have provided Pakistan with economic assistance and various forms of relief, we have been in close touch with the Pakistani government. I think we provided some assistance in defusing the crisis of last year between Pakistan and India.”

Referring to the registration programme, Mr Powell conceded: “I do know, however, that our registration procedures, NSEERS, that applies to a number of countries is having a negative effect.”

However, he underscored “... one has to appreciate that the United States has an obligation to secure (its) borders and the purpose of these procedures is not to target anyone or to intimidate anyone.

It’s to get a better understanding of who is in our country, and we welcome people coming, we welcome people to America. We have to secure our border, but we want to make sure our doors are open.”