Former Pakistan commando chief slain

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan, Nov. 20 (UPI) -- A former head of the Pakistan army's elite commando force has been slain near his home on the outskirts of Islamabad, apparently by militants, officials say.

Retired Maj. Gen. Ameer Faisal Alvi, who commanded the Special Services Group during the first major assault on militants in South Waziristan in 2004, was ambushed as his car slowed for a speed bump on an Islamabad street. His driver also was killed.

Officials called it the first case of a high-profile military officer once directly linked to the anti-terror operation being killed. Investigators say they are looking at several militant groups but so far have not found the responsible party, Dawn news reported.

Alvi retired in 2006 and set up a communication technology firm. He had no special security.