One of Pakistan's oldest and most powerful militant groups, 'LeT is clearly capable of posing a threat to the United States,' Stephen Tankel, a scholar at the Carnegie Endowment in the South Asia Programme told a House panel Wednesday. 'The United States must remain attentive to the evolving threat and vigilant in taking steps to degrade the group,' he said during a hearing on protecting the homeland against Mumbai-style attacks and the threat from LeT.

Tankel suggested that the US should deepen counterterrorism cooperation with India, Saudi Arabia, and the United Kingdom to disrupt LeT's overseas financing and recruitment. He also suggested that the US should signal to Pakistan's military and intelligence services the severe repercussions that would result if LeT, or elements within it, mounted an attack on American soil.