India to probe alleged Pakistani spy ring in army

NEW DELHI - India's defence minister has said a detailed investigation will be conducted to bust what he called a Pakistani spy ring in the Indian army.

Pranab Mukherjee's comments came after Indian police last week arrested two men on charges of espionage and handing over secret documents to Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) military spy agency.

Islamabad denied the allegation.

"It will be our exercise first to unearth the network which they (ISI) have developed," Mukherjee said.

"The other kingpins who are involved with it, they are to be found out ... detailed investigation is necessary," he added.

If found guilty, the two Indian army men could face a court martial, the minister said.

India and Pakistan routinely accuse each other's mission staff of spying and expel them.

In August, Islamabad expelled an Indian diplomat on charges of spying. India responded by throwing out a Pakistani diplomat.

The latest spat came ahead of next month's peace talks, which are aimed at reviving a peace process that began in 2004 to resolve a range of disputes, including the territorial row over Kashmir.

The peace process was put on hold after a string of bombs went off in India's commercial hub of Mumbai in July, killing 186 people.

Police have blamed the attack on a Pakistan-based militant outfit backed by the ISI. Pakistan has denied the charge.

- REUTERS