Several learning institutions and universities in Afghanistan have become the latest target for terrorist attacks.

Described as the country’s mother of all Universities, Kabul University was recently invaded by three gunmen who entered the University grounds and opened fire on students.

Claimed by the Islamic state, the attack has sent shockwaves through the nation.

And the question now, why have Afghan Youth become the target of terrorist attacks?

Radio Islam spoke to Sultan Fazy, an Afghan correspondent with the L.A Times about the motive behind these heinous acts of violence.

Fazy says that the youth are being attacked as the complexity of war brings with it; new faces of violence. Where previously Mosques and hospitals were attacked, now the younger generation become the soft targets, and the government fails to protect them.

The ripple effect of such violence; out of fear for their lives, and parents fear for their children, students are kept away from learning institutions. Not only is the soul of society being attacked, but a new challenge for the youth is losing their ability to get an education, and with it, the country’s hope of a better life for their youth. Fazy notes that the institution of education has not been targeted in Afghan history.

Some optimism surfaced when talks of peace emerged and warring sides were able to meet face to face for the first time in 18 years, but talks between the Taliban and the government have not bared any fruit, and in the interim civilians suffer.

The Taliban has also held peace talks with the United States but the outcome of these talks has not been publicized.

While the recent violence in Kabul was claimed by Isis, the Afghan government believes the Taliban are responsible for organizing terrorist groups in the country.

Violent outbreaks in Afghanistan have surged by 50% in the 3^rd quarter ending in September, when compared with the previous quarter, since the Taliban launched the Doha talks, the US Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR) said in a report this week

The watchdog said this quarter there were 2,561 civilian casualties including 876 deaths, up by 43 percent from April to June.

While there is hope that with the new administration, US strategy towards north Asia will help conclude peace talks and move the Taliban to become a faction of government, the bloodshed currently taking place on the ground clouds the situation with pessimism.

By Naadiya Adams