Pakistani cooperation is the key to a lasting political settlement in Afghanistan: Gen Joseph | World



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General Joseph L Votel, Commander of United States Central Command (CENTCOM) speaks at the Combined Naval Forces Ceremony of the 5th Command Fleet of the US Naval Command at the US Naval Base in Bahrain on May 6, 2018. Photo: Reuters

WASHINGTON: The United States continues to work closely with Pakistan to help the country fulfill its role in establishing a sustainable political settlement in Afghanistan, said Thursday the top American general overseeing the forces of the region. a strategy for South Asia, and Pakistan's cooperation remains essential to achieve the overall goal of a lasting political settlement in Afghanistan, "Votel said at a point

"We continue to work closely with Pakistan to help them fulfill the important role they have indicated they want to play.

Votel said he had seen positive signs of Islamabad but stressed that he wanted to see Pakistan put more pressure on Pakistan-based militants fighting in Afghanistan, including by arresting, expelling or targeting

US President Donald Trump has also stepped up his pressure on Pakistan for it to attack militant refuges on his side of the Afghan-Pakistan border

Votel also noted the key role that the United States wants to play in promoting dialogue. in Afghanistan.

"We must also see them continue to make efforts to force the Taliban to come to the table and take advantage of these opportunities," the general said.

Open Taliban Talks Following an Unprecedented Three-Day Ceasefire in Afghanistan on Eid Leave Last Month

The Taliban rejected talks with the Taliban the government of President Ashraf Ghani, whom they consider as They claimed that they would only speak in the United States.

million. Votel said it was unlikely that the United States would radically alter their military strategy as a result of a continuing badessment of the war effort in Afghanistan

. On July 10, the United States was preparing to undertake a review of the strategy, a year after President Donald Trump reluctantly agreed to expand US participation in the conflict.

Votel presented it more as a regular evaluation would confirm progress, even uneven, in the war of nearly 17 years.

"I do not envision anything … that would likely lead to a major shift in the overall strategy, which, I believe, shows progress, Trump has shown signs of frustration with the l"; lack of progress since it unveiled a strategy last August that committed to deploying US military advisers, trainers and more air support for Afghan security forces. US stated goal is to urge Taliban militants to work for a peace deal with the Kabul government.

Trump was opposed to the US's longest-running war, but his advisers

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

– Reuters Supplementary Reports

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