The anomalous X-ray pulsars ( AXPs ) represent a growing class of neutron stars discovered at X-ray energies .
While the nature of their multi-wavelength emission mechanism is still under debate , evidence has been recently accumulating in favor of their magnetar nature .
Their study in the optical and infrared ( IR ) wavelengths has recently opened a new window to constrain the proposed models .
We here present a brief overview of AXPs and our Gemini-South observation of 1RXSÂ J170849-400910 , which is a relatively bright AXP discovered with ROSAT Â and later found to be an 11 s X-ray pulsar by ASCA .
The observation was taken with the near-IR imager Flamingos in J ( 1.25 \mu m ) , H ( 1.65 \mu m ) , and K _ { s } ( 2.15 \mu m ) .
We confirm the recent detection by Israel et al .
( 13 ) of a source coincident with the Chandra  source ( candidate ‘ A ’ ) .
Our derived magnitudes of J = 20.6 ( 0.2 ) , H = 18.6 ( 0.2 ) , and Ks = 17.1 ( 0.2 ) are consistent with those derived by Israel et al .
( 13 ) , and indicate that if this source is indeed the IR counterpart to 1RXSÂ J170849-400910 , then there is no evidence of variability from this AXP .
However , given the lack of IR variability and the relatively high IR to X-ray flux of this source when compared to the other AXPs , we conclude that this source is unlikely the counterpart of the AXP , and that the other source ( candidate ‘ B ’ ) within the Chandra  error circle should not be ruled out as the counterpart .
Further monitoring of these sources and a deep observation of this complex field are needed to confirm the nature of these sources and their association with the AXP .