More evidence ties Pakistani major, Times Square suspect

ISLAMABAD - Pakistani and U.S. investigators cite growing evidence that a Pakistani army major had been in cell phone contact with a man who allegedly attempted to bomb Times Square in New York, including the possibility that they spoke shortly before the failed bombing.

U.S. officials said they were aware of cell phone traffic between Faisal Shahzad and the unidentified Pakistani military officer, bolstering reports days earlier from Pakistani law enforcement sources.

A Pakistani law enforcement source added detail this weekend, saying the major had cell phone contact with Shahzad on May 1, the day of the botched bombing, including a conversation that occurred as the Pakistani-American was parking his sport utility vehicle rigged with propane tanks, fertilizer and fireworks.

Investigators are keenly interested in the major's role in the failed bombing attempt because he had more than one cell phone conversation with Shahzad from the time he loaded his Nissan Pathfinder with bomb components to the moment he parked the vehicle and walked away, said the Pakistani source, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak about the investigation.

U.S. officials said they could not confirm that timing of the conversations. U.S. investigators have limited information about the major, in custody in Pakistan, and are negotiating with the Pakistani government to interrogate him, they said.

The sequence of phone calls suggests that the army major was aware of Shahzad's intention to detonate a bomb blast in one of New York's prime tourist magnets, the Pakistani source said, though investigators are still trying to determine the major's exact role.

Investigators know of at least one meeting that occurred between the major and Shahzad in Islamabad sometime in 2009, the Pakistani source said. Authorities have previously said they believe that Shahzad arrived in Pakistan from the United States last summer and went later to Pakistan's tribal areas, where he underwent training in bomb-making at a Taliban camp.

The bomb itself was poorly constructed and had little chance of causing a large number of deaths, suggesting that Shahzad was unable to follow through with whatever training he did receive.

While Pakistani authorities have been cooperating with U.S. investigators in ferreting out Pakistanis linked with Shahzad, they have tried to downplay his ties to the Taliban, portraying him instead as a lone wolf.

Three weeks into the investigation, however, there appears to be little doubt of the Pakistani Taliban's strong link with Shahzad and the failed bombing attempt.

What connection the army major had with the Taliban remains unclear. His role in the case could become an embarrassment for the Pakistani military, which regards the Taliban as a formidable threat.

The army has denied that any officer has been arrested in connection with the Shahzad case, saying the major in question was arrested for disciplinary reasons.