The Taliban claim five of its members met with Pakistani officials in Islamabad recently to discuss ways of ending the war in neighboring Afghanistan, the Associated Press reported on Wednesday. 

Pakistan is under mounting pressure from the United States to cut ties with the militants, who regularly attack US and Afghan forces and who stormed the Intercontinental Hotel in Kabul over the weekend, killing an estimated 43 people, foreigners included. 

The group confirmed the meeting in a statement circulated on Tuesday via WhatsApp, saying it favored a political settlement to the Afghanistan conflict without providing further details. It did not name the officials, AP reported.

News reports citing unnamed officials reported the meeting last week.

Earlier this month Washington suspended hundreds of millions of dollars in military aid to Pakistan, accusing it of giving sanctuary to Taliban insurgents, charges Pakistan deny.