By Andrew Quinn, Reuters, September 7, 2012

The United States said on Friday it is designating the Pakistan-based Haqqani network a terrorist organization, which will trigger sanctions against a group American officials blame for high-profile attacks in Afghanistan, and which they say has ties to the Pakistani state.

The decision to blacklist the Haqqani network, announced by U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton during a trip to Russia, could heighten tensions between Washington and Islamabad and have far-reaching implications for any reconciliation process in Afghanistan.

Senior Haqqani commanders warned as much, telling Reuters that [....]

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Clinton labels Pakistan-based group as terrorists
By Elise Labott, Chelsea J. Carter and Jamie Crawford, CNN, September 7, 2012

The Haqqanis have legitimate and "illicit business interests" in the Afghanistan region

A report outlining Clinton's decision is being delivered to Congress, an official says

The designation makes it easier for the United States to go after those who support the group

The Haqqani network operates from Pakistan's volatile North Waziristan region [....]