On Saturday, the United States and the Taliban officially began a seven-day reduction of violence as a precursor to peace talks between the two. Should the reduction in violence be successful, it could begin the process of ending America’s nearly two decade long war in Afghanistan.

WGBH News Analyst Charlie Sennott said that the reduction in violence presents a major opportunity to usher Afghanistan into a new era.

“This is a country battered decade after decade by war. There are very few people who know anything but war in that country,” Sennott said during an interview with Boston Public Radio on Monday. “What an opportunity for [a] true end of violence, and an opportunity for a new form of government and a new way forward.”

Sennott is the founder and CEO of the GroundTruth Project.