WASHINGTON: Lawmakers from both US parties are urging Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton to designate the Haqqani network a foreign terrorist organisation.

A letter obtained by The Associated Press argues the Pakistan-based militant group ''continues to launch sensational and indiscriminate attacks against US interests in Afghanistan.''

It says the Haqqani network ''poses a continuing threat to innocent men, women and children in the region.''

The lawmakers are Sen. Dianne Feinstein and Rep. C.A. ''Dutch'' Ruppersberger, both Democrats, and Sen. Saxby Chambliss and Rep. Mike Rogers, both Republicans.

The State Department says Clinton is reviewing whether the amorphous group meets the criteria for a terrorist organisation. In the meantime, many of its leaders have been individually designated as terrorists.