Pakistan, Aug. 1 -- Thousands of Afghans have rushed to apply for job opportunities in Qatar after the Taliban government signed a new recruitment deal with the Gulf state. Under the agreement, Qatar will hire 3,100 Afghan workers for various roles, including drivers, cooks, mechanics, cleaners, and electricians. Applications began on Tuesday, and by Wednesday, more than 8,500 people had registered from Kabul and nearby areas. The government expects over 15,000 people to register across the country in the coming days.

The Taliban officials believe this deal will reduce unemployment and help ease widespread poverty in Afghanistan. Labour ministry spokesperson Samiullah Ibrahimi said the application centres were filled with hopefuls carryi...