The Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission (AIHRC) in a new report said that 2019, like previous years, once again was a deadly year for Afghan civilians despite ongoing peace efforts to end the 18-year-old war.

The report indicates that 86,823 civilians, including women and children, were harmed by conflict between 2009-2019 (28,979 killed, and 57,844 injured).

Retired US General Jack Keane told US news outlet The National Interest that the Taliban’s leaders calculate that a withdrawal of US troops would produce a massive boost to their movement in Afghanistan.

Gen. Keane believes that the troops' withdrawal also would amount to a US admission of defeat and guarantee the legitimacy of the political wing of the Taliban.