Pak should take action against Taliban to reduce violence in Afghanistan: US commander

Pakistan must step forward and help reduce violence in Afghanistan by its actions against Taliban or the Haqqani Network which reside in the country, a top US commander said today.

Asserting that cooperation from Pakistan remains key to the success of America's South Asia strategy, General Joseph Votel, Commander of the US Central Command said that the US would continue to work closely with Pakistan to help it fulfill the important role.

"Cooperation from Pakistan remains key to accomplishing the overall objective of a durable political settlement in Afghanistan. Now is the time for them to step forward," he told reporters during a Pentagon news conference.

Votel said he had seen very good and improved cooperation between Afghanistan and Pakistan military through the Afghan-Pakistan peace and discussion process that they've had going on.

"That now is the time do this. We think we've created this opportunity through our combined military pressure here, and what we need to see is we need to see Pakistan continue to press in the areas of helping to reduce the violence in Afghanistan by their actions against Taliban or Haqqani who reside in their particular areas,"he said.

Votel said Pakistan can do that in a variety of ways: by arresting them, by expelling them, putting pressure on them to do that.

"We also need to see them continue to make efforts to compel the Taliban to come to the table and take advantage of these opportunities," the top American commander said.

He said America's efforts in Afghanistan were showing signs of progress.