Taliban abduct several, kill seven civilians in southern Afghanistan

The Taliban militants have killed at least seven abductees after kidnapping dozens of civilians in southern Afghanistan, security sources say. 

The Taliban militants have killed at least seven abductees after kidnapping dozens of civilians in southern Afghanistan, security sources say. 

The sources said the abducted civilians were killed in the militancy-riddled southern province of Kandahar.

Militants have kidnapped more than 70 civilians across the troubled region since Friday.

Afghan government forces have launched an operation to free the hostages, who remain in Taliban captivity.

In recent weeks, Taliban have intensified a campaign of kidnapping and killing civilians across various regions of the war-ravaged country.

On July 12, Afghan authorities recovered the bullet-riddled bodies of seven passengers kidnapped by militants a day earlier in the country’s west.