Officials expect Mr. Trump to announce a strategy that meets the requests of commanders in the field, allows for the deployment of around 4,000 more U.S. troops, and aggressively pushes Pakistan to stop acting as a safe haven for terrorists.

General Joseph Votel, head of U.S. Central Command, visited Pakistan and Afghanistan over the weekend to lay the groundwork. Labeling Pakistan a state sponsor of terrorism is one of the more extreme choices that has been considered, along with lesser pressure points such as reductions in aid and no longer designating Pakistan a non-NATO ally, Brennan reports.