On October 7, 2001, U.S. President George W. Bush initiated the first airstrike against the Taliban in retaliation to the 9/11 terror attacks. The Taliban's base in Afghanistan collapsed after two months, but conflicts have dragged on.

On Monday, the Afghan war turned 18, meaning the war has cost Afghan children their childhood and education. And many of them, like one 12-year-old boy in Kabul, have to look for work on the streets.

The boy, who remained anonymous for his safety, told CGTN that his father was killed in the conflict and he had to become the breadwinner to raise the whole family.

He said he now lives in a rented house in east Kabul with his mother, three younger brothers and three sisters. None of the children has gone to school.

On a good day, he said he can earn 100 Afghanis, roughly one U.S. dollar and 30 cents.

About 46 percent of the Afghan population is under 15 years old. Nearly one in four is out of school, mostly girls. 

The United Nations said the number of attacks against schools tripled last year compared with 2017. By the end of 2018, more than 1,000 schools have been shut due to the conflict.

Cast out of school, many children chose to work as small vendors.

But even these jobs were scarce. Some boys were so desperate that they joined the Taliban or other insurgent groups who pay a regular wage.

Despite U.S. President Donald Trump's decision to discard a deal that would have led to talks between the Islamist militants and the Afghan government, people in the country remain hopeful, as the agreement was the closest they have ever got to peace in 18 years.