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Bullet-scarred walls, blood-stained floors bear testimony to deadly attack

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Last Updated on: November 4, 2020

Bullet-riddled walls, blown out ceilings and blood spattered floors were on Tuesday stark testimony to the carnage caused by attackers who went on a shooting rampage at Kabul University on Monday.

Video footage and photographs taken by Ariana journalists in the classrooms at the Law Faculty paint an extremely disturbing picture, driving home the fact that the majority of those killed were young students in their early 20s who were robbed of their dreams and aspirations by the ruthless killers.

In the 24 hours since the end of the six-hour siege, messages of condolences and condemnation flooded social media and while Tuesday was declared a day of mourning in Afghanistan, many foreign embassies flew their flags at half mast in solidarity with a grieving nation.

Officials have put the death toll at 22 but sources told Reuters earlier Tuesday that 30 died in the carnage.

One of the students killed in Monday’s attack was due to marry on Thursday. All his classmates were invited but instead, a funeral was held in place of a wedding. On Tuesday, the shocking reality of this was visible in the blood spattered copies of his wedding invitations that were strewn across a classroom floor.

“Each of our classes had 50 to 70 students, many of whom were victims,” said Saifullah Mohammadi, a gardener at the law faculty.

One student who survived was stunned that the university had come under attack. He said: “It was horrible, I could not believe that university could be targeted.”

This is the second education facility to be targeted in just over a week – and in both cases ISIS (Daesh) claimed responsibility.

However, Afghanistan’s outspoken First Vice President Amrullah Saleh has dismissed the Taliban’s claims of not being involved and has blamed the insurgent group for Monday’s attack.

In a tweet early Tuesday morning, Saleh said a Taliban negotiator in Doha stated in an exclusive interview that “only the Taliban have the monopoly over violence against government. There is no one else.”

Saleh went on to say: “Today they shamelessly disclaim responsibility for massacre of Kabul Uni students. Taliban, their allies & backers are responsible.”

Nader Nadery, a member of the Afghan peace talks team also commented on Twitter and said late Tuesday “Kabul University is a symbol of unity & national identity, a home to many generations of Afghans, poor & rich, a compass of moral authority, a place for brotherhood & sisterhood that ties our people together over a century.

“The atrocity committed against it yesterday is an attack on the soul of our nation. While we all are mourning, we must not give in to what terrorists want: we must make sure to keep the door of this sacred place open. This will be the best way to avenge loss of those innocent souls,” Nadery tweeted.

He also stated that those responsible must be brought to justice.

“To end this senseless violence, an immediate ceasefire is a must so a dignified peace could be achieved. We/ IRoA team showed every sign of urgency in this regard, will the other side show the same & prove that it was not them?” he questioned.

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Pakistan-backed armed groups in Balochistan using former Afghan government forces: report

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According to an investigative report by Parrhesia News, Pakistan’s security agencies are using state-backed armed groups in Balochistan to pursue security objectives and counter Baloch armed opposition, with some former members of Afghanistan’s security forces also recruited into these groups.

The report, published on August 6, claims that groups known as “Lashkars” operate in Balochistan with the support of Pakistan’s security agencies and play a role in security and counterinsurgency operations alongside the country’s army, border forces and intelligence agencies.

According to the investigation, these groups serve as proxies, allowing Pakistan to carry out some security and counterinsurgency operations through armed groups that are not formally part of the state structure.

Parrhesia News claims that some former members of Afghanistan’s security forces, who left the country after the fall of the republic in 2021, have also joined these groups. The report says their military training, combat experience and familiarity with border operations make them valuable to these networks.

The report says the use of former Afghan personnel allows Pakistan-backed armed groups to deploy experienced fighters in their operations without officially increasing the size of Pakistan’s security forces.

The outlet also claims that the former Afghan personnel are primarily motivated by financial needs and finding a way to make a living, and that they have no interest in participating in a potential conflict against Afghanistan.

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Afghanistan suspends 7 private universities for one year, revokes licenses of 2 others

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Afghanistan’s Ministry of Higher Education has announced the suspension of seven private universities for one year and the cancellation of the operating licenses of two others over serious violations and administrative shortcomings.

The ministry said the decision followed inspections and evaluations conducted at universities across Afghanistan during the spring semester of the 1405 solar year. Serious problems were identified at nine private universities, despite repeated warnings and recommendations to address the issues.

According to the ministry, a committee appointed by its leadership council conducted a further review before recommending the suspension and cancellation of the universities’ activities. The recommendations were subsequently approved by the council.

The seven universities suspended for one year are Barlas University in Jawzjan, Rah-e Saadat and Turkistan universities in Balkh, Azhar and Barna universities in Badakhshan, Rashad University in Faryab, and Payam University in Kabul.

The operating licenses of Kohanduz University in Kunduz and Khana-e Danesh University in Takhar have also been revoked.

The ministry cited several violations, including the absence of proper academic and administrative leadership, including university presidents, academic deputies, student affairs deputies and faculty heads.

It also reported the presence of “ghost students” who were listed as enrolled and scheduled for classes despite not being present in classrooms.

Other violations included failure to maintain class attendance records during the first 10 weeks of the semester and allowing students who had been barred from continuing their studies because of poor attendance to sit final examinations, receive passing grades and advance to higher semesters.

The ministry also said some universities lacked the laboratories, equipment and materials required for practical training and were not teaching the curriculum approved by the ministry.

In medical faculties, where much of the training is supposed to take place in hospitals, inspectors reportedly found no students present at hospitals during their visits.

The ministry further alleged that the two universities whose licenses were revoked had falsified attendance records, with some students who had been absent from classes throughout the semester recorded as present in altered attendance sheets.

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Russia eyes railway route via Afghanistan as alternative to Strait of Hormuz

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Russia should explore establishing a railway route to the Indian Ocean through Afghanistan to reduce risks associated with the Bosphorus and Strait of Hormuz, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Marat Khusnullin said.

Speaking in an interview with TASS, Khusnullin said alternative rail routes could pass through Turkmenistan, Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan before reaching India.

“A rail link to the Indian Ocean should also be explored,” Khusnullin said. “Risks related to the Bosphorus and the Strait of Hormuz might require alternative routes: through Turkmenistan, Iran, Afghanistan, and Pakistan. Any options providing access to India are acceptable.”

The proposal comes amid concerns over the security and reliability of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz following the escalation of tensions involving the United States, Israel and Iran.

The Strait of Hormuz is a major global energy route, through which a significant share of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas shipments passes.

 

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