Islamabad: Five Pakistani army officers
have been detained for questioning over possible links to two
US terror suspects accused of plotting an armed attack on a
Danish newspaper, intelligence officials said on Tuesday.
The detentions underscore long-standing allegations
that elements in Pakistan support a militant group known as
Lashkar-e-Taiba, which is devoted to fighting the country's
arch enemy, India.
The group is blamed for last year's terror attacks in
Mumbai and other strikes in India in recent years.
Last month's arrests of David Coleman Headley and
Tahawwur Hussain Rana in Chicago have cast a fresh spotlight
on the group.
US prosecutors said the two men were believed to be
working with an unidentified senior member of the outfit and a
senior al Qaeda operative.
Two Pakistani intelligence officials, speaking
anonymously because they are not allowed to release their
identity, said phone records showed the five Pakistani
officers had contacted Headley and Rana.
They say the five include a retired brigadier general
and two active lieutenant colonels, but did not provide more
details.
Pakistani military officials could not immediately be
reached for confirmation.
The FBI says Headley traveled to Pakistan this year
and may have been headed there when he was arrested October 3
at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport en route to Philadelphia.
PTI
First Published: Tuesday, November 24, 2009, 21:23