KABUL: Afghan security forces have killed the number two mastermind of this month’s bloody Kabul University attack that left 22 people dead, the country’s vice president said on Monday.

Amrullah Saleh said the unnamed “second mastermind” was killed in eastern Paktia province, and the number three in charge of the operation captured.

Three gunmen rampaged through Kabul University on Nov 2, detonating grenades and spraying automatic fire across the campus for several hours.

The attack was claimed by the militant Islamic State group, although the government blamed the Taliban.

Afghanistan is grappling with a surge in violence that has worsened despite the government holding peace talks with the Taliban in Qatar.

Those talks follow an agreement between Washington and the Taliban to withdraw all US forces from what has become America’s longest war.

Saleh said the perpetrators of the Kabul University attack had surveyed the campus and identified security weaknesses before launching their assault.

Published in Dawn, November 17th, 2020