A United Nations report says Afghanistan passed a grim milestone with more than 100,000 civilians killed or hurt in the last 10 years since the international body began documenting casualties in a war that has raged for 18 years, reports AP.

The report released Saturday by the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan comes as a seven-day "reduction of violence" agreement between the US and Taliban takes effect, paving the way for a February 29 signing of a peace deal Washington hopes will end its longest war, bring home US troops and start warring Afghans negotiating the future of their country.

The seven-day “reduction in violence” began at midnight Friday. If it holds it will be followed by the signing of a long sought peace deal between the United States and the Taliban in the Middle Eastern state of Qatar where the Taliban maintain a political office.