Washington — US military is looking at options for a unilateral strike in Pakistan if a successful terrorist strike on US soil is traced back to the country, senior Pentagon officials were quoted as saying today.

Plans for a unilateral strike were developed after ties between Times Square bombing suspect Faisal Shahzad and elements of the Pakistani Taliban were established, Washington Post reported.

“Planning has been reinvigorated in the wake of the Times Square,” the paper said quoting officials.

But US retaliation, officials said, will be contemplated only under extreme circumstances such as catastrophic attack that leaves President Barack Obama convinced that the ongoing campaign of CIA drone strikes is insufficient.

The military bombing would focus on air and missile strikes but also could use small teams of US special forces currently deployed along the border with Pakistan.