ISLAMABAD, Aug 9: Interior Minister Moinuddin Haider has said that 100 Pakistanis detained in the United States after the Sept 11 terror blitz will soon be brought back to the country.

He held a meeting with the visiting US Assistant Secretary of State for Population, Refugees and Migration, Mr Gene Dewey, here on Friday and later said that negotiations between the two countries “have succeeded in resolving the delicate issue of bringing the 100 Pakistanis from America.”

According to an official announcement, the interior minister said Pakistan realized that its citizens were rounded up in the United States after their visas had expired. He, however, said that they must be sent back with dignity and honour and with as little pain as possible to them. He expected the second plane-load of such Pakistanis arriving soon.

These Pakistanis were detained during the search operation launched by the US after the Sept 11 terrorist attacks in New York and Washington. Almost all the Pakistanis taken into custody were in US prisons because of their overstay and not for any other reason.

The US Assistant Secretary of State said his government had taken some strict security measures after the Sept 11 incident. He said both the sides “have a good understanding” of what each government has to do.

Earlier, the interior minister and the visiting US top official discussed the Afghan refugees’ stay in Pakistan.

Mr Haider noted that if the economic and development activities in Afghanistan were geared up, it would create an atmosphere conducive to the refugees’ speedy return.