THE TIMES OF INDIA

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2003

Pak army officers probed for extremist links

REUTERS

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistani army said on Sunday it was investigating "three to
four" of its officers for alleged links with an Islamic extremist
organisation.

"There are about three to four officers below the rank of lieutenant
colonel. They are under investigation for alleged possible links with some
extremist organisation," military spokesman Major General Shaukat Sultan
told Reuters.

He did not name the officers or the militant organisation.

"There is no senior officer among them and they are totally being dealt with
by the Pakistan army," he added, but gave no other details.

He denied a report on Sunday in the Daily Times, a leading English-language
newspaper in the eastern city of Lahore, saying that at least 12 other army
officers were also being investigated for links with suspected militant
Islamic groups.

"It is completely concocted and absurd," Sultan added.

Pakistan was a key backer of the ruling Taliban in neighbouring Afghanistan
until September 11, 2001, but then allied closely with the United States
during its military campaign against the hardline Islamic militia,
culminating in its overthrow in December that year.

Despite strong opposition from hardline Islamic parties, President General
Pervez Musharraf has remained a key supporter of the US-led war on terror.

Angered by Pakistan's withdrawal of support for the Taliban and Musharraf's
close ties to Washington, suspected Islamic militant groups have carried out
a spate of deadly attacks against Christians and western targets in Pakistan
since early 2002.

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