British Broadcasting Corporation quoted Mullah Umar Sating Osama that Bin Laden was not involved in any political or military activity in Afghanistan and as such he could not be blamed for two bombings. A Taliban spokesman in Qandhar, too, denied the Saudi millionaire's hand in the bombing.

Pakistani authorities suspect that Mohammad Sadiq Howaida, whom thay arrested in Karachi on August 7 and subsequently handed over to Kenya, was in touch with the Saudi millionaire. They claimed Howaida had admitted his involvement in the bombing (he denied making this admission on reaching Kenya, though). Americans believe ben Laden is a sponsor of terrorism.

A Washington-based reporters for the BBC said last night that it could well be that the United States decided to ask its nationals toleave Pakistan because of fresh threats. Ever since the blasts in Kenya and Tanzania, the American Embassy has been getting messages warning it of car bombs or human bombs. The press here believes that these messages are being faxed by Islamic Jehad in Afghanistan. One recalls that such warnings preceded the bombing of the Egyptian Embassy here three years ago.

Pakistan security agencies believe that this time Americans are really worried. Besides the threats of car bombing or human bombs there is the real threat of terrorists using Stinger missiles to down American civilian planes.

A report in the English-language daily The Frontier Post of Peshawar says that a large number of Stinger missiles are reportedly available with the Afghans or with their allies among the Afghan warlords or in the black market. Civilian planes are just sitting ducks for these missiles, writes The Frontier Post. They were supplied by the United States to Mujahedeen during the Afghan War.

The paper writes that thegovernment has decided to be tough with fundamentalists who are involved in acts of terrorism.