Over 20 army men face investigations for their alleged links with Al Qaeda and India, Pakistani media said on Monday

The Pakistan Army, however, asserted that only 'three to four' of its personnel were being held for alleged links with extremist groups.

Reports said that while one group of men and officers were being investigated for their links with the Al Qaeda, another group, which was larger in size was taken into custody for their possible links with India, Dawn reported.

"It was reliably learnt that more than a dozen army officers are under arrest for their alleged links with a religious organisation even though the defence spokesman claimed there were only three to four officers," Pakistani newspaper The Nation said.

The report said some of them were also being investigated for possible links with a group of army officers, who made an aborted coup attempt against former prime minister Benazir Bhutto eight years ago.

Defence officials were not immediately available to comment on these reports.

The group of army personnel allegedly having links with Al Qaeda were arrested some months ago in Rawalpindi after a lead was provided by senior al Qaeda leader Khalid Sheikh Mohammad.

The second group was arrested from Sindh by the Field Intelligence Unit for their contacts with India, Dawn said.

Six to seven of the officers arrested are up to the rank of Lt Col.

"The government is keeping the arrests secret as it is trying to bust the entire net. In the second group, the officers are not above the major rank," Dawn quoted officials as saying.

Pakistan defence spokesman Major General Shaukat Sultan on Sunday told reporters in Islamabad only three to four army officers are being detained for possible links with extremist organisations.

He, however, said that he was not in a position to comment about the officers arrested for their links with India.

He also denied the armymen having links with Al Qaeda were arrested from Afghanistan by the FBI.