PESHAWAR: Afghan Deputy Chief Executive Muhammad Khan has said that a statement of the US government terming the Taliban ‘important partners’ did not carry significance.“We should not believe in such statements. Just a few days ago the US government had announced extension of stay of its forces in Afghanistan,” he told Dawn when asked about the recent statement of United States defence department. The Pentagon spokesman had stated that the US viewed Taliban as important partners in a peaceful Afghan-led reconciliation process.

Engineer Muhammad Khan, along with a 45-member official delegation of the Afghan government, was in Peshawar on Saturday to offer condolences on the death of veteran politician Afzal Khan Lala.

Awami National Party President Asfandyar Wali Khan received the delegation at the residence of party’s senior leader Ghulam Ahmad Bilour. Members of late Khan Lala’s family and leaders of the ANP were present on the occasion.