A senior Pakistani Taliban commander says the movement has declared a cease-fire and halted attacks around the country in support of nascent peace talks with the government.

The commander said late on Monday the group's cease-fire has been in effect for the past month. He spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not the official spokesman of the insurgent network.

But his statement adds credence to recent announcements by the Taliban that they are in peace talks with government intermediaries.