Gen. David Petraeus has told the Senate Armed Service Committee that Pakistan’s role in helping reconciliation in Afghanistan is “essential.”

“Such an agreement I think is going to depend on a number of factors that will play out over the course of the summer including creating a sense among the Taliban that they are going to get hammered in the field and perhaps should look at some options,” he said.

Petraeus said he had spoken with Afghan President Hamid Karzai about reports that he had recently met leaders of the Haqqani Network, an al Qaeda ally and one of the most effective insurgent groups operating in Pakistan and Afghanistan.

“He assured me that he has not met with a Haqqani group leader … in recent days, or I think at any time.”