LONDON: Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh opened secret talks with Pakistan Army chief ten months ago to build on the cricket-inspired diplomatic thaw between the two countries, a media report said on Saturday.Singh "appointed an unofficial envoy to make contact with General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani , Pakistan's chief of the army staff who exercises de facto control over foreign policy," The Times reported.The talks, through a back channel, have encouraged the UK and US believe that the countries competition for influence in Afghanistan could be better managed during efforts to start a peace process, it said.The visit of Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani to watch the semi-final match between India and Pakistan in the cricket World Cup last month has sparked hope of a diplomatic thaw between the two neighbouring countries.Kayani visited Kabul this week to meet members of the high peace council, a body set up by Afghan President Hamid Karzai, to build contacts with Taliban groups.The army chief was accompanied by General Ahmad Shuja Pasha , head of Pakistan's powerful Inter-Services Intelligence agency.