Former Pakistani army chief Mirza Aslam Beg today accused the Sharif Government of allowing a US spy team in Pakistan to identify Saudi dissident Osama Bin Laden's alleged bases in Afghanistan and provide ``terminal guidance'' for the strikes.

``It is impossible to bomb specific targets without the cooperation of the incumbent government,'' Beg, who now heads Awami Qiadat Party told a private news agency.

Former ISI chief Gen Hamid Gul claimed that being a professional Intelligence man the Pakistani authorities could not fool him by claiming that country's territorial waters and air-space was not violated in the US attacks on Afghanistan. Gen Gul also asked the Pakistan Government to demand an unconditional apology from the United States forusing the country's territorial waters to launch missile attack on Afghanistan, failing which Islamabad should severe all diplomatic ties with Washington.

In a desperate bid to ward off the criticism over his government's alleged role in the US attacks, Sharif said, ``If we had to do so what was the need of becoming a nuclear power at the cost of opposition by the entire world''.Addressing Pakistan Muslim League workers in Lahore yesterday, Sharif said his government could not be blackmailed by a ``coterie of self-interest seekers''.

The head of the religious Jamait Ulema Islam Party, Maulana Fazulur Rehman said the government's ``patriotism has become doubtful'' adding it was a ``security risk'' and has had lost the right to rule.

``Let Sharif swear on the Koran that no help was provided to the US,'' said Rehman. In the meantime, leading English daily, The News, quoting official sources said Sharif, who had spoken to President Bill Clinton on Friday evening and complained about the US missile hittingPakistani territory, had apologised to Clinton by sending a regret letter.