Wednesday, April 12 2006 10:45 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Washington: Severely condemning the Karachi bombing that left over 50 people dead, the United States has said there is nothing to link the latest bomb attack and a travel advisory issued to Americans last week on going to Pakistan.

"We're saddened by the news of a bombing at a celebration of the birthday of the Prophet Mohammed in Karachi, Pakistan. We strongly condemn this attack and can see no conceivable justification for this atrocity", the State department Spokesman Sean McCormack said here yesterday.

Asked if there was anything on the latest blast in the context of the travel advisory issued last week for Pakistan, McCormack said he does not have any information that would 'connect' the two events.

"I don't have any information that would connect those two events. We periodically update Travel Warnings and issue Consular Warden Messages based on the information that we have. We have a responsibility to help inform our publics concerning issues related to travel to various countries and we take what we believe are the appropriate steps based on the information that we have", the Spokesman said.

Last week the State Department issued a travel warning to Pakistan asking American citizens to be careful in their movements in that part of the world.

"Al-Qaida and Taliban elements continue to operate inside Pakistan, particularly along the porous Afghan border region. Their presence, coupled with that of indigenous sectarian and militant groups in Pakistan, continues to pose potential danger to American citizens. Continuing tensions in the Middle East also increase the possibility of violence against Westerners in Pakistan", the travel warning said.