WASHINGTON— Many called it Pakistan’s 9/11 when Taliban militants indiscriminately killed schoolchildren and teachers last year at Pakistan’ Army Public School.  In response, Pakistan's army expanded military operations, parliament ordered up military tribunals, and the country revived the use of the death penalty.

One hundred forty-five people were killed that December morning, 132 of them schoolchildren. While the government responded with force, the students have gone on learning.

Twelve of the school survivors, along with two of their teachers are wrapping up a two-week study tour in the United States. Invited by the Washington-based think tank Meridian, they took part in a nanotechnology research project at State University of New York Polytechnic Institute's Colleges of Nanoscale Science and Engineering and met with American students and officials.

One of the survivor students, Mohammad, identified only by his first name for safety reasons, told VOA Urdu that “people here are really friendly and despite language barriers, we can talk to them and they are very helpful.”

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