The Institute of War and Peace Studies found optimism for the country's peace process dropped to 57 percent, down from 86 percent among Afghans surveyed after talks began in September.
The first visit to Kabul by Washington’s peace envoy since Afghanistan's squabbling political leadership reached a power-sharing agreement comes amid increased violence blamed mostly on an Islamic State affiliate that has been targeted in stepped-up U.S. bombing.
Reuters reported the Taliban launched 4,500 attacks in the 45 days since signing the agreement —a nearly 70 percent increase in attacks between March 1 and April 15.
The renewed mayhem is a sign that the militant group is taking advantage of governments absorbed in tackling the coronavirus pandemic and the ensuing slide into economic chaos.