John Bolton, former US National Security Advisor, told Afghanistan International that the Taliban must be sidelined to resolve the crisis in Afghanistan.

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.