Al Qaeda linked to South Asia tensions

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (CNN) -- Terrorist group al Qaeda may be trying to stir up conflict between India and Pakistan to distract the Pakistani government from pursuing the network and its allies, according to United States officials.

"The links are clear" between al Qaeda and militant groups, like Lashkar-e-Jangvi, which are organizing terrorism against India, mostly in Kashmir, one official said.

Pakistani officials say that some al Qaeda members have moved into major Pakistani cities throughout the country.

While there is no direct evidence connecting al Qaeda to the attacks on the Indian parliament or attacks on Indian targets in Kashmir, evidence of ties to militants suspected of involvement is considerable.

U.S. officials also say there are signs of possible al Qaeda involvement in the attack on a bus in Karachi earlier this month that killed 12 French citizens and two other people.

Pakistan has already moved some troops from western tribal areas, where they had been searching for al Qaeda holdouts, to the border with India as tensions escalate between the nuclear-capable neighbors.