Taliban, Afghan Forces Declare Eid Holiday Ceasefire Amid Violence

Violence has soared since May 1 and while the Taliban have avoided engaging American forces, attacks against government and civilian targets have not stopped.

The Taliban and Afghan government Monday declared a three-day ceasefire for this week's Eid al-Fitr holiday, following a sharp spike in violence as Washington goes about withdrawing its remaining troops from Afghanistan. Violence has soared since May 1 -- the deadline missed by the United States to withdraw the last of its troops -- and while the Taliban have avoided engaging American forces, attacks against government and civilian targets have not stopped. In the latest, the interior ministry said Monday that at least 11 people were killed by a bomb that struck a bus overnight in southeastern Zabul province. That followed Saturday's carnage outside a school in the capital Kabul when a series of bombs killed at least 50 people and wounded more than 100 -- most of them young girls.