The US on Thursday said Lashkar-e-Tayyaba terror outfit was as dangerous as Taliban and Al-Qaida with which it was working in close coordination and that Pakistan has been asked to deny it a foothold in that country.
US Special Envoy on Afghanistan and Pakistan, Mr Richard Holbrooke, also emphasised the urgent need for bringing to justice the perpetrators of Mumbai attacks, saying Pakistan has taken "some steps" in this regard but these were not enough.
Mr Holbrooke, who met the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, here on Wednesday evening to give his assessment of the situation in Afghanistan, said India has a "vitally important role" to play in the peace and stability in that country and insisted that the US was not trying to "diminish" that scope.
At the same time, he emphasised that Afghanistan cannot be stabilised without the participation of Pakistan, which has "legitimate concerns" in that country.
In an interaction with a group of journalists here, he said the LeT's goal was to create "maximum problems" between India and Pakistan besides working against the interests of western countries.
"When we talk about major terrorist groups we consider it as dangerous as other groups," Holbrooke said when suggested that the US did not appear to be keen on tackling LeT on the same lines as Taliban and Al Qaida.
"We understand, as government, that it (LeT) is a threat and we talk about it all the time with Pakistani military (asking them) to deny their territory to this organisation," said Holbrooke, who arrived here on Wednesday after a visit to Islamabad.
The Special Envoy said, "We all know what it (LeT) did and what they want to do."
He identified LeT as a part of terror conglomerate comprising Afghan Taliban, Pakistani Taliban and Haqqani network. "Taliban has almost become a brand," he observed.
"Under intense pressure these groups seem to be growing closer to each other. Two or three years ago, they were more distinct than now," Holbrooke said.
He said these groups work more closely and help each other as their long-term objective is similar — to hurt western ideologies and create "maximum problems between India and Pakistan.
"Tackling it (LeT) is equal to any other priority in the region," he said.
To a question on Mumbai attacks, he said Pakistan has taken "some steps but these are not enough". He said the US was talking "frankly" to Pakistan on such issues.