Nearly 500 personal bodyguards of Laden have fled from Jalalabad in Afghanistan after the United States tightened its grip to arrest the fugitive, the sources, quoting reports from the battle-front said. The sources, however, did not rule out presence of Laden in these areas but said there was no concrete proof yet.

Meanwhile, disenchantment was brewing fast among the militants fighting in Kargil and Drass areas and a wireless intercept said they were asking for money and logistical support from the Pakistani army to fight a retrograde battle ondizzy heights in Kargil region.