Simple Visits Won’t Solve Complex Problems Between Pakistan & Taliban, Says Bhutto

He expressed support for strengthening anti-Taliban forces and called for sending US military aid to resistance groups in Afghanistan.

On Monday, July 8, Bolton stated that meetings between US officials and the Taliban, especially intelligence officials from both sides, benefit the Taliban more than the US, as they grant legitimacy to the group.

Bolton's comments refer to the meeting between CIA Deputy Director David Cohen and a Taliban delegation, including Abdul Haq Wasiq, the Taliban's intelligence chief, on October 8, 2022, in Qatar.

Bolton emphasised that the US should not pay the Taliban for intelligence information.

Earlier, NBC News reported, citing informed sources, that the US is seeking increased intelligence cooperation with the Taliban to combat terrorism.
Two informed sources and a former US official told NBC that Biden administration officials are discussing expanding cooperation with the Taliban government in Kabul to counter ISIS.

Western officials have warned about ISIS-Khorasan terrorist attacks in Europe and the US. This group primarily operates in Afghanistan and has carried out three deadly attacks in Iran and Russia.

Bolton, a senior official in the Trump administration, suggested that Washington should aid in the downfall of the Taliban instead.

Bolat mentioned to Sabah News Agency that the labour shortage in Turkiye is so serious that even foreign workers cannot fill it.

This cabinet member highlighted Turkey's need for foreign workers amidst growing reactions from citizens and opposition parties to the government's refugee policies in recent months.

In his interview with Sabah News Agency, Bolat noted that there is a serious labour shortage that cannot be filled with foreign workers. He pointed out that if 25,000 Afghan shepherds were to leave, agriculture and livestock farming in the country would collapse.

Bolat's remarks have received various reactions on Turkish social media.

One social media user commented that the government has taken such wrong steps in the past 22 years that without the labour of Afghans and Syrians, who work like slaves, there would be no agriculture in the country today.

Hours after the interview was published and reactions increased, the Turkish Ministry of Trade issued a statement explaining that Bolat's comments were "distorted" on social media.

However, the statement reiterated that there is a labour shortage in the agricultural sector in the eastern regions of the country, and this gap is being filled by Afghan migrants. The statement noted that the labour shortage affects the market situation.

The ministry stated that the registration process for 60% of the SIM cards in Kabul has been completed, with the registration of the remaining 40% still underway.

On Monday, the Taliban’s ministry issued a statement saying that approximately 23 million SIM cards are currently active in Afghanistan.

The ministry has called on all telecommunications companies to register their customers' SIM cards according to the registration guidelines for the SIM cards.

Images provided by these sources show individuals taking down and tearing these flags in the streets. The photos depict the torn flags.

According to these sources, those involved in these actions are members of the Taliban. This action is in contrast to the Taliban officials’ assurances in Kabul and Herat that they would ensure security for Shia mourning ceremonies during Muharram.

A Shia resident of Herat told Afghanistan International, "They promised to secure our ceremonies so we could hold them peacefully. How does tearing down our flags provide security?”

He further questioned, "Their security commanders and governors assure us of protection; then who are these individuals tearing down our flags?"

Several other sources also reported to Afghanistan International that Taliban ombudsmen from the propagation of virtues department in Herat have been removing flags of Muharram mourners from shops and homes, warning people against displaying such flags.

This action has led to widespread dissatisfaction among money exchangers, prompting around 400 of them to close their shops in protest. As a result, the currency exchange market in this district is now completely shut down.

Sources reported that on Sunday morning, the Taliban entered the shops with weapons and threatened the owners.

Some shopkeepers stated that the Taliban have made the licensing conditions excessively difficult, preventing them from obtaining licenses.

The exchangers also complained that the Central Bank has set high costs for obtaining a license. They fear that if this situation continues, they will be forced out of business, leading to thousands of people becoming unemployed.

Local Taliban officials have not yet commented on the matter.