KABUL - President Ashraf Ghani on Saturday ordered increased security measures for the American University of Afghanistan and reconstruction of the nearby blind school.
Paying a visit to the university that came under attack three days ago, Ghani said the enemies should know the Afghan government had a strong will to develop Afghanistan and eliminate terrorists.
On Wednesday evening, 13 people, including a lecturer and seven students, two security guards and three Afghan security forces were killed and 36 people including students, staff and policemen were injured in the attack on the university.
The attack also damaged building of the School for the Blind, located near the American University.
A statement from the Presidential Palace said President Ashraf Ghani visited the AUAF and the School for the Blind on Saturday morning.
“The government would make every effort to reconstruct the two educational centers,” the statement quoted Ghani as saying.
“All the Afghans and the government were affected by the attack …and martyring of our future builders, but terrorist groups should know our intention and decision for the development of Afghanistan and eliminating terrorists is strong,” the president added.
The statement said Ghani stressed better security measures for the university so that students felt safe during their studies.
Dr. Mark A. English, head of the AUAF, thanked the president for following the attack and the Afghan forces for protecting the lives of students and university staff.
He said the master degree studies normally began on Saturday, sending a message to terrorist groups that their attacks would never derail the education process of Afghans.
President Ghani also visited the School for the Blind, located besides the university to assess its situation after the attack.(Pajhwok)