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India May "Soon" Be Added to List of Must-Register Nationalities

By PUNEET SINGH LAMBA
A subsequent report (Indians Too Will Have to Register, Jan. 21, 2003) in Pakistan's Dawn newspaper appeared to confirm The Sikh Times' report. The report filed from New York states, "Indian nationals (male 18-45 years) would be required to register under the new U.S. government laws, beginning from May or June of this year, informed sources here told Dawn on Monday. So far the United States has asked only nationals of 25 Muslim nations and North Korea to register with the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Services in an effort to curb terrorism. Nevertheless, countries like India, Nepal, and Sri Lanka are expected to be placed on the list of countries whose nationals would be required to register under such laws. However, the U.S. State Department spokesman Philip Reeker told news reporters last Thursday that the registration process was not Muslim countries specific. '[A]ll countries of the world' would eventually register in 'batches,' he said."

The Sikh Times, Boston, Jan. 17, 2003

The Sikh Times has learnt from informed sources at the A.C.L.U. that 'there are unconfirmed reports that the [U.S.] government intends to keep having groups [of nationalities] register [with the U.S. government, as part of the controversial anti-terrorism program] in waves [i.e. more nationalities will be added to the list in stages] until 2004. India will probably be listed [among nationalities that must register] soon.'