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Taliban Kill 20 in Attack at Bacha Khan University in Pakistan Taliban Kill 20 in Attack at Bacha Khan University in Pakistan
(about 1 hour later)
CAIRO — Taliban attackers stormed across a university campus in northwestern Pakistan on Wednesday, gunning down students and teachers in an assault that revived traumatic memories of an attack at a nearby school in Peshawar just over a year ago. CAIRO — Attacks on education have long been a signature atrocity of the Pakistani Taliban, whose militants have torched schools, banished girls from classrooms and gunned down students at their desks in their quest to impose an extremist ideology on Pakistani society.
After a year of heavy military crackdown on militants had seemed to marginalize the Pakistani Taliban movement, with attacks at their lowest pace in a decade, the new school assault renewed worries that the insurgency, even if diminished, has survived and retained its capacity for brutality. Those attacks seemed to reach their nadir in December 2014 when gunmen swarmed through a school in Peshawar, massacring dozens of schoolchildren in an assault that triggered widespread revulsion and prompted a fierce military crackdown on militants.
The official toll was 20 dead in the attack, at Bacha Khan University in the northwestern town of Charsadda. Just before 9 a.m., at least four heavily armed militants, using winter fog as cover, slipped through nearby fields and scaled the rear wall of the university. Gunfire and explosions rang out across the campus as the attackers, some apparently teenagers themselves, stormed through classrooms and dormitories shouting “Allahu akbar,” or “God is great,” and firing at random. But on Wednesday, Pakistanis were drawn back into their national nightmare. At least four Taliban attackers stormed a university campus in another northwestern town, gunning down at least 20 people, most of them students and teachers.
Witnesses described scenes of carnage as the gunmen sprayed bullets at students, at least one of whom jumped through a window to try to escape. Many staff members locked themselves in their offices. But one junior chemistry lecturer, who was armed with a pistol, was reported to have returned fire; witnesses said his actions helped several students escape before he, too, was killed. After a year in which the Pakistani Taliban had finally seemed to be pushed to the margin, with attacks at their lowest pace in a decade, the new school assault has again renewed worries that the insurgency, even if diminished, has survived and retained its capacity for brutality.
The attack, at the Bacha Khan university in Charsadda, 20 miles from Peshawar, began just before 9 a.m. when the militants, using winter fog as cover, slipped through nearby fields and scaled the rear university wall. Gunfire and explosions rang out across the campus as the attackers, some apparently teenagers themselves, stormed through classrooms and dormitories shouting “Allahu akbar!” as they fired.
Witnesses described scenes of carnage as gunmen sprayed bullets at students, one of whom leapt through a window while others cowered in bathrooms. Many staff members locked themselves in their offices. But one junior chemistry lecturer, who was armed with a pistol, was reported to have returned fire; witnesses said his actions helped several students escape before he, too, was killed.
The assault ended after hours of pitched combat when the security forces cornered the attackers into two university blocks. They were killed before they could explode their suicide vests, officials said.The assault ended after hours of pitched combat when the security forces cornered the attackers into two university blocks. They were killed before they could explode their suicide vests, officials said.
Violence against students is a hallmark of Islamist movements across the world, from Boko Haram in Nigeria to the Afghan Taliban, but those resonances have been particularly strong in Pakistan in recent years. For the Taliban movements in both Pakistan and Afghanistan, attacks on education — torched schools, girls forced to stay home, killings of those who resisted — were an early marker of their extremist ideology and ruthless methods. As all-in-one symbols of government authority and a modernist view of the future that the jihadists loathed, schools provided easy targets and maximal shock value.
A Taliban attempt on the life of the schoolgirl activist Malala Yousafzai in 2012 turned her into a global icon of courage. And a 2014 Taliban massacre at the Peshawar Army Public School, barely 20 miles from the scene of Wednesday’s attack, killed 150 people, mostly young students, and caused a national revulsion now considered as a turning point in the country’s fight against Taliban militants. But those tactics have become something of a liability over the years, winnowing the extremists’ support even among conservatives who might otherwise support their goal of harsh Islamic rule.
For the Taliban movements in both Pakistan and Afghanistan, attacks on education — torched schools, girls forced to stay home, killings of those who resisted — were an early marker of their extremist ideology and ruthless methods. But those tactics have become something of a liability over the years, winnowing their support even among conservatives who might otherwise support their goal of Islamic rule. One turning point was the Taliban attempt on the life of the schoolgirl activist Malala Yousafzai in 2012, transforming her into a global icon of courage and energizing other education campaigners in Pakistan.
The assault in Peshawar, in particular, largely galvanized previously fragmented public opinion about how to deal with jihadist militancy. And it set the conditions for a harsh army crackdown on the group that has seen over 300 prisoners hanged over the past year, some under a new network of military courts. Since then, Taliban attacks in Pakistan have been rare, after years of striking widespread terror in wave after wave of bombings and assaults. The assault in Peshawar, in particular, seemed to galvanize fragmented public opinion about how to deal with jihadist militancy. And it set the conditions for a harsh army crackdown on the group that has seen over 300 prisoners hanged over the past year, some under a new network of military courts. Since then, Taliban attacks in Pakistan had become relatively rare.
Some militants, however, remain undeterred. In a phone interview, Khalifa Omar Mansoor, the commander of a Taliban faction that orchestrated the Peshawar attack, said he also ordered the bloodshed in Charsadda on Wednesday.Some militants, however, remain undeterred. In a phone interview, Khalifa Omar Mansoor, the commander of a Taliban faction that orchestrated the Peshawar attack, said he also ordered the bloodshed in Charsadda on Wednesday.
Mr. Mansoor, who commands a faction based in a nearby tribal district, described the violence as retribution for the army’s harsh crackdown over the past year, calling it a “lesson to the military leadership of Pakistan.”Mr. Mansoor, who commands a faction based in a nearby tribal district, described the violence as retribution for the army’s harsh crackdown over the past year, calling it a “lesson to the military leadership of Pakistan.”
He released a photo that showed him sitting with four armed men, mostly teenagers, that he described as the attackers — a surreal image that juxtaposed the five militants against a beautiful vista of verdant meadows and mountain peaks.He released a photo that showed him sitting with four armed men, mostly teenagers, that he described as the attackers — a surreal image that juxtaposed the five militants against a beautiful vista of verdant meadows and mountain peaks.
But Pakistan’s main Taliban group quickly distanced itself from the violence. In a statement, a spokesman for the Tehrik-e-Taliban — which despite years of internal conflict and splintering still claims to represent the country’s main Taliban factions, including Mr. Mansoor’s — threatened to bring its organizers before a Shariah court.But Pakistan’s main Taliban group quickly distanced itself from the violence. In a statement, a spokesman for the Tehrik-e-Taliban — which despite years of internal conflict and splintering still claims to represent the country’s main Taliban factions, including Mr. Mansoor’s — threatened to bring its organizers before a Shariah court.
“Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan condemns this un-Islamic act in strongest terms and disassociates itself from this entirely,” the spokesman said.“Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan condemns this un-Islamic act in strongest terms and disassociates itself from this entirely,” the spokesman said.
The attack also had an unmistakable political dimension for its targeting of peaceful political elements inside ethnic Pashtun society.The attack also had an unmistakable political dimension for its targeting of peaceful political elements inside ethnic Pashtun society.
The Charsadda university is named after Abdul Ghaffar Khan, a celebrated pre-independence leader known as the “Frontier Gandhi” for his advocacy of nonviolent resistance to British colonial rule. The political party that carries Khan’s legacy, the Awami National Party, suffered huge political losses in 2013 after a concerted Taliban campaign of violence against its supporters and candidates in northwestern Pakistan and the southern port city of Karachi before the last general election.The Charsadda university is named after Abdul Ghaffar Khan, a celebrated pre-independence leader known as the “Frontier Gandhi” for his advocacy of nonviolent resistance to British colonial rule. The political party that carries Khan’s legacy, the Awami National Party, suffered huge political losses in 2013 after a concerted Taliban campaign of violence against its supporters and candidates in northwestern Pakistan and the southern port city of Karachi before the last general election.
Wednesday’s assault occurred on the anniversary of Mr. Ghaffar Khan’s death, and hours before the university was due to host a poetry recital in his honor to which hundreds of guests had been invited. Wednesday’s assault occurred on the anniversary of Mr. Ghaffar Khan’s death, and hours before the university was set to host a poetry recital in his honor to which hundreds of guests had been invited.
Sajjad Ahmed, a professor of sociology and gender studies, said he was sitting in his office when he heard the first shots, then saw a young attacker shouting “Allahu akbar” and running toward the student dormitories. He said he saw several people being shot dead.Sajjad Ahmed, a professor of sociology and gender studies, said he was sitting in his office when he heard the first shots, then saw a young attacker shouting “Allahu akbar” and running toward the student dormitories. He said he saw several people being shot dead.
“I will not forget this terrible scene for the rest of my life,” he said in a phone interview. “Students fell as if they were newly blossomed flowers.”“I will not forget this terrible scene for the rest of my life,” he said in a phone interview. “Students fell as if they were newly blossomed flowers.”
As the shooting erupted, staff at the university administration block locked themselves in their offices, switched off the lights and lay on the floor, said Salma Khan, a university official. “We have some security staff, but they were not enough to face the Taliban,” she said.As the shooting erupted, staff at the university administration block locked themselves in their offices, switched off the lights and lay on the floor, said Salma Khan, a university official. “We have some security staff, but they were not enough to face the Taliban,” she said.
Others praised the actions of Syed Hamid Hussain, the chemistry teacher who tried to hold off the rampaging gunmen with his pistol. Teachers and lecturers in northwestern Pakistan have been allowed to carry weapons since the 2014 Peshawar school attack. After firing off a few shots, he, too, was killed. Others praised the actions of Syed Hamid Hussain, the chemistry teacher who tried to hold off the rampaging gunmen with his pistol before he was killed. Teachers and lecturers in northwestern Pakistan have been allowed to carry weapons since the 2014 Peshawar school attack.
“They fired directly at the professor,” a sociology student named Muhammad Daud told Agence France-Presse, describing Mr. Hussain as “a real gentleman and a respectable teacher.”“They fired directly at the professor,” a sociology student named Muhammad Daud told Agence France-Presse, describing Mr. Hussain as “a real gentleman and a respectable teacher.”
Once the attack was over, the army chief, Gen. Raheel Sharif, visited the stricken campus, and also visited wounded people at a nearby hospital. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, who was in Switzerland attending the World Economic Forum, vowed to step up the fight against the Taliban.Once the attack was over, the army chief, Gen. Raheel Sharif, visited the stricken campus, and also visited wounded people at a nearby hospital. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, who was in Switzerland attending the World Economic Forum, vowed to step up the fight against the Taliban.
“We are determined and resolved in our commitment to wipe out the menace of terrorism from our homeland,” Mr. Sharif said in a statement.“We are determined and resolved in our commitment to wipe out the menace of terrorism from our homeland,” Mr. Sharif said in a statement.
The Taliban’s rationale for attacking a school, other than it presented a relatively soft target, was not entirely clear. While attacks on army bases, five-star hotels and political leaders once appeared to cow Pakistanis, particularly in the early years after the insurgency erupted 2007, the Peshawar massacre in 2014 outraged much of the country’s leadership and public.The Taliban’s rationale for attacking a school, other than it presented a relatively soft target, was not entirely clear. While attacks on army bases, five-star hotels and political leaders once appeared to cow Pakistanis, particularly in the early years after the insurgency erupted 2007, the Peshawar massacre in 2014 outraged much of the country’s leadership and public.
Arguments about the merits of negotiating with the Taliban instead of fighting them were quickly brushed aside as much of the country’s political class threw its weight behind a harsh military and judicial campaign.Arguments about the merits of negotiating with the Taliban instead of fighting them were quickly brushed aside as much of the country’s political class threw its weight behind a harsh military and judicial campaign.
Taliban violence diminished as the authorities closed radical madrassas and carried out assaults on militant hide-outs in the tribal areas. Many militants were quickly hanged under a new military judicial system that has drawn heavy criticism from human rights groups.Taliban violence diminished as the authorities closed radical madrassas and carried out assaults on militant hide-outs in the tribal areas. Many militants were quickly hanged under a new military judicial system that has drawn heavy criticism from human rights groups.
Still, the military continues to turn a blind eye to certain militant groups, particularly those that target India. And while the wider Taliban movement appears weak and divided, some factions have in recent weeks renewed their violent campaign against targets in the main regional city, Peshawar. On Tuesday, a Taliban suicide bombing at a police check post in the city killed 11 people.Still, the military continues to turn a blind eye to certain militant groups, particularly those that target India. And while the wider Taliban movement appears weak and divided, some factions have in recent weeks renewed their violent campaign against targets in the main regional city, Peshawar. On Tuesday, a Taliban suicide bombing at a police check post in the city killed 11 people.