The leaders of U.S. congressional intelligence committees have urged Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to immediately designate the militant Haqqani network as a "terrorist" group.
U.S. officials blame the Taliban-linked network for attacks in Afghanistan including assaults on embassies and the parliament in Kabul.
The top Republican and Democrat on the Senate and House of Representatives' intelligence committees, in a letter to Clinton, said their recent trip to Afghanistan reaffirmed concerns about the network.
The letter, signed by senators Dianne Feinstein and Saxby Chambliss and Representatives Mike Rogers and C.A. Ruppersberger, said there was no reason not to move forward on the designation.
State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said the lawmakers' letter had been received and that the review of the potential designation was still under way.
U.S. officials blame the Taliban-linked network for attacks in Afghanistan including assaults on embassies and the parliament in Kabul.
The top Republican and Democrat on the Senate and House of Representatives' intelligence committees, in a letter to Clinton, said their recent trip to Afghanistan reaffirmed concerns about the network.
The letter, signed by senators Dianne Feinstein and Saxby Chambliss and Representatives Mike Rogers and C.A. Ruppersberger, said there was no reason not to move forward on the designation.
State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said the lawmakers' letter had been received and that the review of the potential designation was still under way.