Three months of detention - first by Pakistani and then Malaysian authorities - were not all that two of the 'Karachi 13' had to endure between September and last month.

Mohd Tarmizi Nordin, 16, and Ahmad Firdaus Kamarudin, 18, told malaysiakini that they were interviewed on three occasions by US security personnel although they had been detained by Pakistani authorities.

"There were three interviewers. Two of them were American and a Pakistani, but the Pakistani did not ask many questions," said Tarmizi.

Firdaus, who was interviewed separately later, said his interrogators were not Pakistani but appeared to be of other nationalities.

"There were a few orang putih. The Pakistani (authorities) seemed only to be supporting them," he said.

The duo were among 13 students arrested in Karachi in September on suspicion on being involved in guerilla warfare training, but were later freed without being charged and deported.

They group was arrested on arrival in Kuala Lumpur on Nov 10 and held for investigations into alleged links with regional terror group Jemaah Islamiyah (JI).

On Nov 24, however, Tarmizi and Firdaus were among four students who were unexpectedly released and sent home by the Home Ministry. They had reunion of sorts on Saturday in Kuala Lumpur, at a Hari Raya gathering for family members of ISA detainees.

Four more were conditionally released and placed under restricted residence on Dec 5, while the remaining five were detained for two years under the ISA.

Cell-like room

Tarmizi and Firdaus both described their experiences in Pakistani custody as "worrying" but not harsh, saying they were interviewed only on three occasions for about an hour each time.

"They would talk to me for an hour and leave us for a week and then come back the following week. They spoke to me in English and Urdu," said Tamizi, who was the youngest in the group.

He said he was held in a cell-like room together with Mohamad Akil Abdul Raof, 21, and Muhammad Ariffin Zulkarnain, 18.

Firdaus said he was asked whether JI had sponsored his studies in Pakistan.

"They didn't ask me if I was a member of JI. They just accused me of being one, and also asked about my friendship with Gun Rustam Gunawan, the brother of detained JI leader, Hambali," he said.

"Gun Gun was just like the rest of us. We just shared a house and we played football together. We knew that he was Hambali's brother, but he never mentioned his brother," he added.

Asked about the allegations made by Malaysian authorities later that some of the students had met with al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden (photo), Firdaus denied knowledge of any such activities.

"I didn't do anything. I don't know anything about the others doing anything wrong as well. I just found out as it was reported in the news," he said.

Both students also said their detention under the ISA was much harsher due to the long interrogation periods.

"I was interviewed every day from 9.30am onwards. Sometimes, it ended in the afternoon but at other times it continued until late evening," said Tarmizi.

Both said although they had been "afraid" during their incarceration, but were not surprised at being freed eventually.

"I was quite scared, but thought they would release me because I didn't do anything wrong," added Firdaus.