Kohima, Aug 20 - The Isak-Muivah faction of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN-IM) Thursday rejected charges of any link with Pakistan-based Islamic terror outfits like the Harkat-ul-Jihad-al Islami (HuJI).

'The NSCN has (had) no relation at all with HuJI or any terrorist organization at any point of time,' an NSCN-IM statement said.

The separatist group was reacting to Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio's allegation that the NSCN-IM has been maintaining links with extremist groups such as HuJI and other criminal elements.

Rio said this at the chief ministers' meeting on internal security in New Delhi Monday chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

The chief minister said: 'It is emerging that the NSCN-IM has some active Muslim members in their ranks who play a major role in the group's extortion drive. Such operatives are in contact with one 'Lieutenant' Halal Uddin from NSCN-IM armed wing and one Azad alias Robin from the civil wing.'

The rebel group, in its release, said: 'He (chief minister) must substantiate his wild allegations against the NSCN of having clandestine relation with HuJI.