washington top u.s. general afghanistan say tuesday see change pakistan support militants far despite president donald trump take tough line islamabad u.s. officials long frustrate see pakistan reluctance act group afghan taliban haqqani network believe exploit safe pakistani soil launch attack neighbor afghanistan august trump outline new strategy war afghanistan chastise pakistan allege support afghan militants accuse pakistan harbor agents chaos provide safe havens militant group wag insurgency u.s.-backed government kabul u.s. official express hope relations two countries could improve kidnap u.s.-canadian couple three children free pakistan october couple abduct neighbor afghanistan direct clear pakistanis ... see change implement yet general john nicholson tell reporters hop see change hop work together pakistanis go forward eliminate terrorists cross border nicholson say say believe senior taliban leaders base pakistan lower-level leadership afghanistan nicholson add agree senior u.s. officials pakistan main spy agency inter-services intelligence isi directorate tie haqqani network militant group unite state 2012 designate pakistan-based haqqani network terrorist organization pakistan say do great deal help unite state track terrorists four-star general say see evidence relations iran taliban western afghanistan closely track unite state send 3,000 additional u.s. troop afghanistan part trump south asia strategy nicholson say 1,000 troop would advise afghan troop battalion level put close fight great risk nicholson give optimistic view situation say believe way win u.s. officials make similar statements course 16-year-old war situation accord many u.s. officials remain stalemate accord recent report u.s. government watchdog taliban increase amount territory influence control afghanistan past six months figure sign deteriorate security situation war-torn country even unite state commit troop u.s. general see change pakistan behavior despite trump tough line