Banned militants regroup, says report

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan, June 30 (UPI) -- Pakistan's banned militant groups are now active on the Pakistani side of Kashmir, a secret government report seen by the BBC says.

These groups are expanding operations and recruitment in Muzaffarabad, the capital of Kashmir, and other parts, the BBC said citing the secret report sent to the region's government.

The groups were banned in 2002 by Pakistan after an attack on parliament in New Delhi.

Speaking to the BBC, Pakistani Information Minister Qamaruzaman Qaira denied any such report on resumption of activities by these groups had come to the government.

"However, if the report was submitted by a secret agency then that is another matter altogether," he was quoted as saying.

The BBC said it obtained a copy of the report submitted by regional police to the Kashmir government March 25.

The banned groups reported to be active in Muzaffarabad are Harkatul Mujahedin, Jaish-e-Mohammad and Lashkar-e-Toiba, the BBC said.

Harkatul Mujahedin and Jaish-e-Mohammad, said the secret report, plan to open Islamic religious schools and Lashkar-e-Toiba is already operating one such school in the city.

"We fear these madrassas maybe a cover for furthering militant activities," the government report was quoted as saying.

Neelum was identified as the district where these groups are most powerful and where they have become a major law and order problem.

The BBC report said local residents said there has been considerable militant activity in the regions mentioned.

"Sometimes they operate under the guise of a charity, sometimes as a school. We have protested against them to no avail," a local lawyer was quoted as saying.