The Trump administration is seeking to hold direct talks with the Taliban aimed at ending the ongoing 17-year U.S. war in Afghanistan. The potential diplomatic effort comes as the Taliban has carried out a string of deadly attacks against the U.S.-backed Afghan security forces, even after the Trump administration deployed thousands more U.S. troops to Afghanistan. Last month, the Taliban and Afghan security forces organized a historic 3-day ceasefire, while grassroots peace activists participated in a 435-mile peace march.