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Deadly explosion rocks Chinese restaurant in Afghan capital
An explosion at a Chinese restaurant in Kabul on Monday killed at least seven people, including one Chinese national, and injured several others, Afghan officials reported. The blast occurred in a heavily secured central district of the city.
Casualties and immediate aftermath
Six Afghans and one Chinese citizen died in the attack, according to local authorities. Dejan Panic, Afghanistan director for the humanitarian group EMERGENCY, stated that 20 individuals were admitted to their hospital, with seven pronounced dead on arrival. Among the injured were four women and a child.
Social media footage shared by Reuters showed a gaping hole in the building's side, while eyewitnesses told BBC Afghan that a car outside the restaurant was completely destroyed. Locals assisted in transporting critically injured victims to medical facilities. Authorities later covered the damaged structure with large sheets.
Investigation and conflicting claims
Kabul police spokesperson Khalid Zadran confirmed the explosion took place near the kitchen of the Chinese Noodle restaurant, situated beneath a guesthouse in the Shahr-e-Naw neighborhood. He noted that the cause of the blast remained undetermined and was under investigation.
The Islamic State (IS) militant group claimed responsibility for the attack, asserting in a statement that China was among its targets due to Beijing's alleged "crimes against oppressed Uyghur Muslims." However, Afghan police have not yet verified the claim.
China's response and diplomatic pressure
On Tuesday, China's foreign ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun demanded that the Taliban-led Afghan government take urgent measures to protect Chinese nationals in the country. He stated that Beijing had "made urgent representations" with Afghan authorities, insisting on thorough medical treatment for the injured and enhanced security for Chinese citizens.
China has repeatedly warned its citizens against traveling to Afghanistan since the Taliban regained control in 2021. The country has also advised Chinese nationals near the Tajik-Afghan border to leave following a series of attacks in Tajikistan last November that killed six Chinese citizens.
Background and ongoing threats
The restaurant, primarily serving Chinese Muslims, was operated by a Uyghur man from China's Xinjiang region, his wife, and an Afghan business partner, according to Zadran. China has faced persistent accusations of human rights abuses against Uyghurs and other Muslim ethnic groups in Xinjiang, allegations Beijing vehemently denies.
IS has previously targeted Chinese interests in Afghanistan, including a 2022 attack on a Chinese-owned hotel in Kabul that left three assailants dead and at least two others injured. The group's latest statement underscores its intent to continue targeting Chinese nationals in the region.
