WASHINGTON, Jan 29: Foreign Minister Khurshid Mehmood Kasuri held a key meeting with US Vice-President Dick Cheney at his official residence at the Naval Observatory, the Pakistan embassy said on Wednesday.

“The two sides discussed various aspects of bilateral relations. Mr Cheney reaffirmed US political and economic commitment to Pakistan. He said that the Bush administration is engaged in a long-term and enduring relationship with Pakistan,” said Mohammed Sadiq, deputy chief of the mission in Washington.

“The vice-president appreciated Islamabad’s cooperation in the war on terrorism and said that Pakistani officials are enormously helpful in this joint struggle.”

Both the high officials also exchanged views on the security situation in South Asia with a particular reference to the Kashmir dispute and the need for US involvement in bringing about a structured dialogue between India and Pakistan, the embassy said.

The foreign minister specifically raised the issue of special registration for the US Pakistanis under the NSEERS programme and urged Mr Cheney to show leniency towards Pakistanis during the process.

Vice-President Cheney was accompanied by Assistant Secretary of State for South Asia Christina B. Rocca and Senior Adviser to the US president on Asia Jim Moriarty while Foreign Minister Kasuri was accompanied by Ambassador Ashraf Jehangir Qazi, Director-General (Americas) Akbar Zeb and Deputy Chief of Pakistani Mission Mohammad Sadiq.

Earlier, Mr Kasuri had a breakfast meeting with Steven R. Weisman, senior diplomatic correspondent and foreign policy analyst of the New York Times, and discussed with him key regional issues confronting Pakistan.

Mr Kasuri also had a number of meetings with Congressmen and senators who impact directly on US foreign policy and operations.

Meanwhile, Secretary of State Colin Powell said on Wednesday that the United States would help find a place for Saddam Hussein and his immediate family members to go, should they leave Iraq.

“We would, I am sure, try to help them find a place to go, that certainly would be one way for them to avoid war,” said Mr Powell at a joint press conference with Khurshid Mehmood Kasuri.