Pakistan finally admits to having 'contacts' with Afghan Taliban

Pakistan has contacts with the Taliban, adviser to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs and National Security Sartaj Aziz has revealed.

Addressing a press conference, Aziz, who visited Kabul to hold talks with Afghan leadership, said Pakistan had contacts with the terror group because of the past, but did not control them.

According to the Daily Times, last week Karzai's chief of staff, Karim Khorram, claimed the Taliban office was part of a plot to break up Afghanistan, orchestrated by either Pakistan or the United States.

Aziz had denied the perceptions held by Afghanistan that Pakistan controls the Taliban, given that its leaders have presumed sanctuary in Pakistan.

He had insisted Islamabad could only help bring about a deal and not impose one.

According to the report, he said Pakistan had eased the movement of Taliban negotiators and released 26 Taliban detainees at the request of the Afghan Government.