Pakistanis are shocked to hear that the bombers were Pakistanis

Pakistanis react with disbelief about London bombers' identification

Many Pakistanis refuse to acknowledge that members of Britain's Pakistani community could have been involved in the blasts, despite increasing evidence pointing to the men.

Pakistanis reacted with shock and disbelief on Wednesday to news that at least three of four suspected London bombers were of Pakistani ancestry, with some saying they were afraid a backlash might make it harder to get visas to travel to the West.

Many refused to acknowledge that members of Britain's Pakistani community could have been involved, despite increasing evidence pointing to the men. "How can they establish in three days that Pakistanis or Muslims were involved in it? It seems to be a fake story. It seems to be a drama," said Mohammed Turfail, a 45-year-old computer salesman in the eastern city of Lahore.

"I don't think that any Pakistani or British citizen of Pakistani origin could have been involved." Abid Khan, 35, a marketing agent for a beverage company, said the news was "a very sad day for all of us," and fretted that the attacks would make it harder for working families trying to get ahead by sending a relative to the West. "We sold a piece of land to send my brother to get his education in England," Khan said. "This kid of terrorist attacks will make it difficult for people from Pakistan to go and live there."

Feel scared of a backlash

Business student Ali Kamran said he was due to travel to England to further his education, but that he was reconsidering in the wake of the bombings. "After these attacks, I feel scared. I fear there would be a backlash and the British people won't like to have Pakistanis among them," Kamran said from the southern port city of Karachi.

British police raided six homes in Leeds on Tuesday, searching for explosives and computer files that might shed more light on what were believed to be the first suicide bombings in Western Europe. They arrested a man, identified by the British news agency Press Association as a relative of one of the suspected bombers.

Many Pakistanis have relatives in Britain, and ties between the nation and its former colonial ruler are still strong. Many dual citizens split time between the two countries. Others send back money every month to help support family members here. "The suspicion of involvement on people of Pakistani origins will effect their businesses and their social lives," said Malik Abdul Rauf, a Karachi convenience store owner. "Traveling in Britain will be difficult. Pakistanis will be discouraged from going there."

Home to the world's largest nuclear black market

Pakistani President Gen. Pervez Musharraf has been a steadfast supporter of the U.S.-led war against al-Qaida, rounding up more than 700 suspects and turning many over to American custody. But the nation is struggling to overcome an image as the locale of choice for al-Qaida fugitives, and for being home to the world's largest nuclear black market.

Many feel deep resentment at what they see as a Western attempt to use the actions of a few to paint their country and their religion with the same brush. "They are trying to make every Pakistani out to be a terrorist," said Mohammed Ramzan, a fruit vendor in Lahore.

But Aslam Khan, a 53-year-old construction worker in the city, said the issue transcended national or religious pride. "Those who do such things cannot be called Muslims, or even human beings," he said. "My own son was killed in a bomb explosion in 1987 (in Pakistan) and I can feel the pain the relatives of those killed in London are going through."