Taliban kills 12 Afghans, abduct 40 others -- officials

GHAZNI, Afghanistan: Afghan authorities on Wednesday recovered bullet-ridden bodies of 12 security officials recently captured by the Taliban in eastern Ghazni province, while gunmen kidnapped 40 others in the country’s north as the insurgency escalates.

The violence underscores Afghanistan’s fragile security situation as the Taliban, who launched their annual spring offensive in April, rejected government calls this week for a ceasefire during the holy month of Ramadan.