Washington: Bilateral and regional issues, including Indo-Pak relations, figured in talks Pakistan's Foreign Minister Khurshid Muhammad Kasuri held with US Vice- President Dick Cheney.

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

Both also exchanged views on the security situation in South Asia with a particular reference to Kashmir. Kasuri urged US involvement in bringing about a structured dialogue between India and Pakistan, he said.

"The Vice-President appreciated Islamabad's co-operation in the war on terrorism and said that Pakistani officials are enormously helpful in this joint struggle," the Embassy said.

The Foreign Minister specifically raised the issue of special registration for the US Pakistanis under the immigration service's registration programme and urged Cheney to show leniency towards Pakistanis during the process.

Vice-President Cheney was accompanied by Assistant Secretary of State for South Asia Christina 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.

PTI