Pakistan's army has denied media reports it is holding peace talks with the Pakistani Taliban or its affiliated militant groups.

An army spokesman said Tuesday the reports are “concocted, baseless and unfounded.”

On Monday, a top Taliban commander told news agencies that Pakistani officials and the militant group were in preliminary talks to explore ways to promote the peace process.

The commander said the talks focused on the South Waziristan tribal region along the Afghan border. He said the Taliban is making demands including the release of prisoners.

The government has achieved peace deals with the Pakistani Taliban in the past, but they have largely fallen apart. Critics have said the deals allow the militants to regroup and rebuild their strength to resume fighting the government and foreign troops in Afghanistan.

It is not clear if the Pakistani Taliban are united enough to strike a lasting deal.

Pakistan has come under pressure to eradicate militancy since U.S. special forces in May killed al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden in a Pakistani town where he had apparently been living for years.