US National security expert Ashley Tellis

Washington: Continued Pakistan support to terrorist group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) threatened to undermine the delicate peace between India and Pakistan and plunge the region into conflict, with significant consequences for American interests abroad, said US national security expert Ashley Tellis.

Despite recently resumed talks, tensions between the two countries remained high, Mr Tellis said in his testimony before the Foreign Affairs Committee of the US Congress on Thursday.

He said LeT is ''with the exception of al-Qaeda'' arguably the most important terrorist group operating from South Asia and was the mastermind of the 26/11 Mumbai attacks. It remained the spearhead of the Pakistan militarys campaign against India.

Mr Tellis said LeT remained primarily Pakistani in its composition, used Pakistan territory as its main base of operation, and continued to be supported extensively by Pakistani, especially by the Army and Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).

''The United States should stop pretending that LeT is an independent actor. Candid recognition that the organisation receives protection and support from Pakistan will go a long way toward solving the problem,'' he added.

He, however, said since the 26/11 attack, the United States and India have successfully partnered together on matters of intelligence and counter terrorism. This cooperation should expand further.

''If Pakistan cannot or will not take decisive action against LeT, the United States and its allies should be prepared to act in its place. Doing so, may be increasingly necessary not simply to prevent a future Indo-Pakistan crisis, but more importantly to protect the United States, its citizens, its interests, and its allies,'' the American expert said.