The Afghan government and the Taliban have been exchanging heated words following Monday’s attack on Kabul University with First Vice President Amrullah Saleh blaming the Taliban for the attack that took the lives of at least 18 students and wounded dozens more.

In response, Taliban spokesman Mohammad Naeem branded Saleh’s rhetoric a conspiracy against the group.

On Wednesday, Saleh in a Facebook post again linked the Kabul University attack to the Taliban, saying it has resemblance to the attack on American University of Afghanistan (AUAF) in Kabul in 2016.

“Initial investigations indicate that the Taliban was behind this brutal attack. The attack is similar to those plotted by the group in the past like the attack on the 400-bed military hospital (in Kabul),” said Tariq Arian, spokesman for the Ministry of Interior.

“The Islamic Emirate (the term used by the Taliban for their own political system) categorically condemns this incident. This is a shocking incident and it is a crime against humanity,” Taliban spokesman Mohammad Naeem said.

Meanwhile, an audio tape purportedly linked to Daesh that was shared on social media shows that the group has rejected its involvement in the attack on Kabul University.

Military experts said that verbal clash between the two sides indicate the complexity of interference of foreign intelligence agencies in Afghanistan’s affairs.

“The war has taken multiple aspects now. I fear that more groups emerge in the country in the next few months, but now the issue is only between the Taliban, Daesh and the Afghan government,” said Jamaluddin Badr, a military expert.

 Attack on Kabul University killed 22 people and wounded over 40 others, according to officials.