WASHINGTON, Jan 3 (INP) The top American commander for the Middle East wants a more aggressive Afghan military pressuring Taliban and other insurgents over the normally quieter months of Afghanistan's winter, and then quickly going on the offensive in the spring. It's all part of a plan the United States hopes will change the course of a war now entering its 17th year. Gen Joseph Votel of US Central Command said an influx of new American trainers can help escalate the fight. They'll be operating with Afghan units, closer to the front lines and at greater risk, but Votel said US commanders will ensure American and allied forces have adequate protection. The goal is to get the Afghan military moving on its military campaign sooner, rather than later. The United States wants the “focus on offensive operations and we'll look for a major effort to gain the initiative very quickly as we enter into the fighting season,” Votel said in a recent interview quoted by the world media. Afghan forces must “keep the pressure on all the time and work to gain the upper hand as quickly as we can. So that as we get into this next fighting season we can build on the initiative,” he said. The Trump administration's Afghanistan strategy gives the US military greater authority to launch offensive attacks against a resilient Taliban and an emerging militant Islamic State (IS) group affiliate. On the Afghan side of the border, Washington is trying to build a tougher national military, Votel said as the coalition builds up the Afghan Air Force and trains more security forces, the Afghans will become better fighters. “By the time they get to the next fight,” he said, “they will be able to really present a significant offensive capability.” There are now as many as 16,000 US forces in the country roughly double what Trump inherited and a special training unit is scheduled to deploy to Afghanistan early this year. James Stavridis, a retired Navy admiral who served as the top US commander for Nato from 2009 until 2013, said the ultimate goal in Afghanistan remains the same: Pushing the Taliban into seeking peace negotiations. “There is a slightly better than even chance that there are some new factors which move us toward the possibility of a successful outcome,” said Stavridis, now dean of The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University. Those changes, he said, include the elimination of troop withdrawal timelines and Taliban fatigue. “I think they're tired, too. This is also a 17 year war for them,” Stavridis said, but suggested any settlement will require compromise. “Is this going to be a sweeping victory? No. But I think the odds are much higher of getting them to the negotiating table.” Votel, too, said he believes efforts are trending in the right direction, as Afghanistan's military replaces older commanders with younger officers. Recruitment is being maintained at a rapid pace. But as winter arrives, Votel said the Afghan army must stay on the offense and prepare for greater fighting when the weather improves. “We frequently talk about these fighting seasons, but as you know the fighting never actually ends,” Votel said. INP/AH