Islamabad: Embarrassed by blunt assertions by Bush administration officials that the US would not review its decision asking Pakistanis in America to register under the immigration and naturalisation service (INS), Pakistan on January 17 said Foreign Minister Khurshid Muhammad Kasuri would leave for New York on January 18 to attend a United Nations meet and not plead with Washington over immigration issue.

Contradicting earlier statements by Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali that Kasuri was being rushed to the US 10 days ahead of his scheduled visit to take up the issue with US officials, Pakistan Foreign office said the Minister would go to New York to attend the Foreign Ministers' meeting of the UN Security Council scheduled on January 20.

Jamali on January 16 had said he had directed Kasuri to rush to the US to prevail on Bush administration to go soft on thousands of Pakistanis residing in America.

Earlier, US attorney general John Ashcroft told Pakistan's Ambassador to Washington Ashraf Jahangir Qazi that the US government was not prepared to review its decision asking Pakistanis to register with the INS.

Following Ashcroft's remarks, a statement by Foreign Office in Islamabad said Kasuri, who was scheduled to visit US on Jan 27, primarily advanced his trip due to UN Ministers' conference.

Asked why Kasuri was going ahead of his scheduled visit to Washington, it said, "We would seek assurances from the US government that there is no harassment, that regulations are applied with justice, equity and consideration, and that the honour and dignity of Pakistanis are respected."

Kasuri will ensure that arrangements made by Pakistan's Embassy in Washington to advise, support and assist the Pakistani community are adequate, the Foreign Office statement said.

The Foreign Minister advanced his visit after receiving invitation from his French counterpart for the UN conference, it said.

"Pakistan and France enjoy close and cordial relations, and co-operate in many important areas. Therefore, the Foreign Minister was leaving tomorrow (January 18) to reach New York in time for this important meeting of the UN Security Council," the statement added.

The US, meanwhile, has added five more countries including Bangladesh whose citizens residing in America have to register with the INS.

Kasuri would now go to Washington on Jan 27. The Foreign Minister's visit to the US capital is in response to the invitation of US Secretary of State Colin Powell, the statement said.

"The purpose was to further broaden and impart long-term dynamic Pakistan-US relations. The Foreign Minister would take up economic, trade, defence, development and other issues. In addition, the discussions will include Kashmir, resumption of the Pakistan-India dialogue, Afghanistan and regional security," it said.

PTI