NEW YORK - A major American newspaper has highlighted Army Chief Ashfaq Kayani's role in defusing Pakistan's recent upheaval, and said the Obama administration's hopes of stabilising the country increasingly rest on the "strong bond" between him and Admiral Mike Mullen, the top US military officer. "The two men spoke daily during the recent political crisis, in which growing opposition protests threatened to undermine the government until President Asif Ali Zardari-also under pressure from Gen Kayani and senior US officials-made significant concessions," The Wall Street Journal reported on Saturday. "During the crisis, Gen Kayani assured Adm Mullen, the chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, that he wasn't contemplating a military coup," the Journal said, citing US officials. "These officials said Adm Mullen trusted the assurances-but they acknowledged that some senior US military officials harbour doubts about Gen Kayani's capabilities and intentions". Gen Kayani ultimately helped resolve the crisis by mediating between Mr Zardari and his chief rival, Nawaz Sharif, US and Pakistani officials were cited as saying. The relationship offers potential dividends for both countries, the dispatch said. American officials want Islamabad to take stronger steps against the militants working to destabilise Pakistan and Afghanistan, and need Gen Kayani's help as an ally in the fight, which they say he supports. Pakistan wants to continue receiving American financial aid and military assistance, which requires maintaining close ties with Adm Mullen's Pentagon, it said. "It is a relationship born of necessity. Mr Zardari is also seen as committed to battling militants, but his government is fragile," the dispatch said. "Many Pentagon officials believe the government will fall within the next few months, although civilian US officials say the president could hold on". As an ally, Gen Kayani is "seen as the safer bet, because he'll probably be the last one standing," an unnamed senior US military official was quoted as saying. But the US reliance on Gen Kayani carries risks, the Journal said. "During the Bush years, US officials had a similarly warm relationship with Gen Kayani's predecessor as army chief, Pervez Musharraf, and sent him more than $10 billion in American aid. In the end, Mr Musharraf, who was also president, disappointed the US by failing to order a broad crackdown on the extremists in his country". "It's a complete replay of what took place with Musharraf," C Christine Fair, a senior political scientist with Rand Corp and former United Nations political officer in Kabul, was quoted as saying. "We have a love affair with whichever chief of army staff is in office at any one time until they thoroughly disappoint." In their public and private comments, US and Pakistani officials say such concerns are unfounded, the newspaper said. US military and civilian policy makers, according to the dispatch, say Gen Kayani shares their belief that extremism poses a threat to Pakistan's survival and has taken steps that show he is serious about tackling the problem. In September, he replaced the head of Pakistan's intelligence service, which reports to him. "He has done what he said he was going to do," Adm Mullen told reporters earlier this year. "Gen Kayani has not misled me at all."