PESHAWAR: Security forces have gathered substantial intelligence data from Bacha Khan University to ascertain the whereabouts of terrorists who attacked the university, elements who provided them ammunition and their facilitators.

Briefing newsmen on the attack, Director General of Inter-Services Public Relations Lt Gen Asim Bajwa said four terrorists had attacked the university. They used two mobile phones with Afghan SIMs and received calls from different locations, including Afghanistan.

One mobile phone kept ringing even after the terrorists had been killed by security forces, he added.

“We have prepared an intelligence picture about the identity of terrorists and the National Database and Registration Authority has been provided maximum information on the basis of fingerprints.”

The ISPR chief said the information about attackers, their handlers and locations could not be disclosed at this stage but would be shared with media at an appropriate time.

Lt Gen Bajwa said 20 people — 18 students and two staff members — were killed and 11 injured.

He said Chief of Army Staff Gen Raheel Sharif presided over a meeting at Corps Headquarters to take a thorough review of the attack.

Security officials shared information and response of forces and the meeting discussed the future line of action.

The meeting praised the response of security forces to counter the attack while keeping in view the distance of Bacha Khan University from Peshawar.

Army troops went all the way from Peshawar and took on the terrorists, he added.

He praised the university’s security staff for keeping the terrorists engaged till the arrival of troops. The university has around 52 security personnel.

Had the attackers not been contained by security forces the casualties would have been much more, he added.

Responding a question he said the threat of attacks on educational institutions existed as the nation was in a state of war.

“We have to fight this war with unity, and every citizen and institution has to play his role in the eradication of the menace of radicalism.”

Lt Gen Bajwa said the Zarb-i-Azb operation was in full progress and would continue till the eradication of terrorism from the country.

Terrorists were on the run and were attacking soft targets which reflected their frustration, he added.

Published in Dawn, January 21st, 2016