In Pakistan, Americans as targets

"Whether this [attack] was against Americans or foreigners in general, or on non-Muslims, is hard to say.... But there are those elements who would like to destabilize Pakistan because of its support of the war in Afghanistan."

One of the central dilemmas now for Musharraf, who came to power in 1999 in a bloodless coup, is whether to continue this crackdown in a bid for law and order, or to let some steam out of the political pressure cooker by abiding by his nation's Constitution and lifting political constraints ahead of elections this October.

His choice is not an easy one. If Musharraf allows the law-and-order situation to deteriorate further, he will lose the interest of foreign investors who can create jobs, and the confidence of allies such as the US.

Even after numerous presidential speeches to the nation, anti-American sentiment continues to linger – although with top religious and militant leaders, this sentiment has been muted. A separate and annual dispute between two rival Muslim sects, Sunnis and Shiites, has threatened to destabilize Pakistan even more, as sporadic murders from Karachi to Islamabad have led to 70 deaths thus far.

Yet, if Musharraf continues his ban on political activity, begun after Sept. 11, he could be labeled as just another military despot. This week, former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto pledged to stay out of next fall's elections if Musharraf promises to step down as president.

Other mainstream parties are planning a rally Saturday just to call for the right to hold public assemblies, a crucial campaign tool for the planned Oct. 12 elections.

"The most important question is whether Musharraf holds elections in October," says Mr. Rehman. "If he holds elections, he has to allow political activity, and then the jihadi [militant] and sectarian groups will get involved too."

But in Islamabad, the Musharraf regime is hoping to restore confidence in other ways. Yesterday, he announced that the heads of Islamabad's police agencies would be replaced because of "lapses" in security, which allowed the church attacker into the diplomatic enclave, one of the most heavily guarded sections of the nation's capital.

Police also began a major crackdown on illegal immigrants yesterday, as part of new measures introduced in the wake of Sunday's attack.

Afghan, Iranian, Iraqi, and Somali nationals were among 30 people detained in overnight raids around the capital as police conducted visa and identity checks, reports Agence France-Presse.

Meanwhile, the government is reportedly seeking to expel thousands of Arabs, North Africans, and Afghans from its thousands of religious schools, or madrassas.

The US State Department renewed a worldwide caution to Americans, saying the Islamabad attack indicated that terrorists might be seeking softer US targets. Dependants of US Embassy personnel in Pakistani cities have been authorised to leave the country voluntarily.

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