WASHINGTON, Feb 28: The United States is trying to persuade Pakistan and Afghanistan to work together to beat back the much-talked about Taliban spring offensive, says the White House.

“They have issues where they need to be working together,” White House Press Secretary Tony Snow told a briefing in Washington. “Not only in anticipation of a spring offensive, but also working more closely together on the war on terror.”

Mr Snow said that during his visit to Islamabad and Kabul earlier this week, US Vice-President Dick Cheney held “productive conversations” with the leaders of the two countries on this issue.

This was the third briefing in a row in which the White House spokesman tried to explain the purpose of Mr Cheney’s surprise visit to the region on Monday and so far this seems to be the most plausible explanation coming from the Bush administration.

The US media, however, remain sceptical. At the latest briefing, Mr Snow was asked why Mr Cheney took CIA’s deputy director for operations, Stephen R. Kappes, with him if the visit aimed only at assuring US allies of Washington’s commitment to the region, as he had said earlier.

Mr Snow said he could not answer that question but said the media was wrong in assuming that Mr Cheney was to “do a slam down or something on President Musharraf”.

Mr Kappes is an expert on undercover operations and worked with the Libyans to oversee their disarmament three years ago.