Taliban Reject Ceasefire And Kidnap Nearly 200 Bus Passengers

The Taliban rejected an Afghan government offer of a ceasefire on Monday, August 20. According to Reuters, insurgents ambushed three buses with nearly 200 passengers. The passengers were traveling for this week’s Eid al-Adha Muslim holiday. In June, the Taliban observed a government ceasefire over the three-day Eid al-Fitr festival. But one Taliban leader said the ceasefire helped U.S. forces, who the Taliban are trying to drive out of Afghanistan.