Kabul University attack an intelligence failure: Saleh

KABUL (Pajhwok): First vice-president Amarullah Saleh on Monday said the attack on the Kabul University was an intelligence failure and a humanitarian disaster.

A number of gunmen forced their way inside following a blast at the main gate of Kabul University at around 11:00am.

According to initial information, many students were killed and wounded but hundreds of others caught in the crossfire were rescued.

At least 19 people were killed and 22 others wounded before the attack came to an end with the killing of three assailants.

First VP Amrullah Saleh in a post on his Facebook page said the attack proved ‘Taliban’s rotten soul and of their like-minded and supporters.”

He said the attack on Kabul University was an intelligence failure for the government and a humanitarian disaster.

The Presidential Palace

Seddiq Seddiqi, spokesman of the president, also in a tweet said, “We strongly condemn today’s attack on Kabul University. We have full confidence in the strong arms of our security forces and they will eliminate the terrorists as soon as possible.”

After the defeat of these terrorists in Helmand, the group lost their way and now they attacked an academic area, he added.

National High Reconciliation Council

Abdullah Abdullah, chief of the National High Reconciliation Council (NHRC) in a statement said, “Terrorists again killed innocent students including boys and girls in their attack on Kabul University.”

He said that the attack was clearly a crime against humanity and a war crime and extremists proved their enmity with education.

“The concept of terrorists that they will attain their goal with such savage attacks is raw and false”, Abdullah concluded.

Views of eyewitness

Mohammad Shoiab, a student of agriculture faculty of Kabul University, said, “We were in classroom when we heard gunshots and our teachers took us out of the classroom. Later security forces took us away from the scene.”

About Taliban’s denial of involvement in the attack, he said the Taliban wanted to change people’s minds by this attack and their denial was for public consumption but they were behind such attacks.

He said a number of students of the law faculty were injured after being taken hostage.

A number of other sutndets expressed simliar views and accused the Taliban of carrying such attacks in the country.

Comments and criticisms of Kabul citizens:

GulNabiWahidi, a resident of Kabul city, while criticizing Afghan government leadership and security organs, said the attack on Kabul University showed weakness of security and intelligence organs.

He said, “It is shameful for President Ashraf Ghani, Amrullah Saleh and Sarwar Danish, they should eat poison and hang themselves to death.”

He said if the Taliban were not involved in the attack, they should announce truce and stop the ongoing conflict in the country.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid told Pajhwok they had not been involved in the attack.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack.

Currently, around 25,000 students are studying in Kabul University.

Mds/Pk/ma