Nightmare lingers after Kabul attack

KABUL－"I still can't believe that the terrorists attacked Kabul University and cowardly gunned down my classmates. It was a terrifying scene to see your classmates rolling on the ground and seeking help but you can't," Ibrahim Ershadi, a Kabul University student who survived Monday's assault, murmured in grief.

"Like a nightmare, the dreadful attack has caused a psychological problem for some students including me," said the terrified Ershadi a day after the deadly attack.

At least 22 people, mostly students, were killed and another 27 wounded when three gunmen stormed the university on Monday.

Nearly a dozen women were among the victims for which the Islamic State group has claimed responsibility. Government officials, though, pinned the blame on the Taliban for the brazen onslaught.

The state-run Kabul University is the largest educational center in Afghanistan with roughly 25,000 students and more than 800 staff, lecturers and employees.

Blaming extremist groups for the attack, Ershadi said the attackers "can't stop the students from getting an education but generate hatred of people" against terrorism.

Although armed insurgents attacked private educational centers in the past, it is the first time they stormed a state-run education institute.

"From one side the terrorists were spraying bullets and from the other side, the students were jumping from their classes on the first and second floor to escape the attack," university employee Saifullah Mohammadi said.

Mohammadi blamed extremist groups and called it an "attack of ignorant extremists on knowledge", saying the assault achieved nothing but acrimony against militant groups.

The attack on Kabul University drew condemnation nationally and internationally.

Afghan President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani and the United Nations have condemned the attack in the strongest terms.

"It is unjustifiable to target a university and kill unarmed students who are seeking knowledge to serve the country," human rights activist Tamana Zaryab said.

Xinhua