U.S. ‘strongly condemns’ terror attack on Bacha Khan University in Pakistan

At least 21 people, mostly students, embraced martyrdom and scores of others were wounded when four heavily-armed gunmen stormed Bacha Khan University on Wednesday morning.

The gunmen entered the Bacha Khan University named after iconic leader Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan alias Bacha Khan in Charsadda, some 50 km southwest of Peshawar in Khyber- Pakhtunkhwa province, and opened fire on students and teachers in classrooms and hostels, police said.

Flags on official buildings and the national parliament were flying at half-staff and police stepped up security at schools and educational centres across the country.

It was one of the most brazen attacks claimed by the Pakistani Taliban, and came barely one year after the militant group raided an army-run public school in Peshawar, massacring more than 150 people, majority children.

Such statements from among the Taliban are not uncommon since the group has many loosely linked factions and is indicative of the deep divisions and splits among the insurgents.

Vigils have been held in Peshawar and elsewhere in Pakistan for at least 21 people killed in a university attack.

Students said they witnessed Husain opening fire on the militants with his own 9mm pistol before he was taken down in a hail of bullets.

The attack on the university campus carried out allegedly by the Pakistan Taliban proves that terrorism does not follow any religion but only believes in killing for the sake of killing.

The attack coincided with the 28th anniversary of Bacha Khan’s death.

Officials at two hospitals in the city said a total of six injured people have been brought in from the university, four to the Lady Reading Hospital and two to a Charsadda district hospital.

“We are determined and resolved in our commitment to wipe out the menace of terrorism from our homeland”, declared Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

Imran Khan, the Pakistani cricket star turned politician, condemned the attack on the university.

However, another spokesman, Mohammad Khurrassani, said the group “strongly condemn[ed] the attack” since it “is not according to Shariah”. The limited damage and prompt military action at the university should hopefully serve as a deterrent for terrorists planning future attacks on innocents.

Pir Shahab, superintendent of investigations in Charsadda, said the 21 dead included a chemistry lecturer who was later revealed to have died trying to shield his pupils, two gardeners, one caretaker, and 17 students.

A Pakistani Taliban commander called Umar Mansoor claimed responsibility for the attack.

He said the attack was in response to military operation in the province which has broken the back of militants.