WASHINGTON: Top US General Joseph Votel has said that Pakistan cooperationis must to bring durable political settlement in Afghanistan and addingthat US continues to work closely with Pakistan to accomplish the target.

General Joseph said this on Thursday during a press briefing. He said thatPakistan is the key player in the region and its cooperation is must forsustainable peace and stability in Afghanistan.

Votel said he had seen positive signs from Islamabad but stressed that hewanted to see Pakistan put more pressure on Pakistan-based militantsfighting in Afghanistan, including by arresting, expelling or targetingthem.

He also noted the key role US wants Pakistan to play in promoting dialoguein Afghanistan.

The remarks come amid growing speculation about moves to open talks withthe Taliban following an unprecedented three-day ceasefire in Afghanistanduring last month’s Eid holiday.

The Taliban have rejected talks with the government of President AshrafGhani, which they see as illegitimate and instead insisted they would onlytalk with the United States.

Top US General added the US is unlikely to make any big shift in militarystrategy as a result of an ongoing assessment of the war effort inAfghanistan.

Votel portrayed it more as a regular assessment than a wholesale review andsuggested that he expected it would confirm progress, however uneven, inthe nearly 17-year-old war.

Officials said Trump has shown signs of frustration over the lack ofprogress since he unveiled a strategy last August that committed to anopen-ended deployment of US military advisers, trainers and special forcesand increased air support for Afghan security forces. The stated US goal isto push the Taliban militants to work toward a peace agreement with theKabul government.

Trump was opposed to remaining in America’s longest war, but was convincedby his advisers to press ahead.

He authorized last year the deployment of an additional 3,000 US troops,bringing the total to around 15,000.