Fifty thousand U.S. troops are in Afghanistan and their role has changed from fighting to advising. As the numbers decrease, tensions may rise as the Taliban fights but U.S. troops do not fight. This transition is critical this year: (1) an agreement is necessary for the U.S. troops to remain, and (2) discussions focus on a possible civil war breaking out as U.S. troops leave.
References
Engel, R. (2014, January 1). Afghanistan and beyond: US foreign policy challenges in 2014. NBC News. Retrieved January 1, 2014, from http://worldnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2014/01/01/22122831-afghanistan-and-beyond-us-foreign-policy-challenges-in-2014?lite&ocid=msnhp&pos=1