An explosion at a Chinese-run restaurant located within a hotel in Kabul's Shahr-e-Naw district on Monday resulted in the deaths of seven individuals—six Afghan nationals and one Chinese national—and left several others injured. The Islamic State group subsequently claimed responsibility for the attack. Authorities initiated an investigation into the incident, which prompted a formal diplomatic response from China.
Incident Details
The explosion occurred on Monday at a Chinese noodle restaurant situated beneath a guesthouse in the Shahr-e-Naw neighborhood, a commercial zone known for office buildings, shopping complexes, and embassies. Police spokesperson Khalid Zadran confirmed the incident, stating the blast took place near the kitchen area. The restaurant, operated by a Chinese Muslim man from Xinjiang, his wife, and an Afghan business partner, primarily served the Chinese Muslim community.
Emergency services, including the Italian NGO Emergency, reported receiving 20 individuals from the scene at a local hospital. Seven of these individuals were pronounced dead upon arrival, while others, including four women and a child, sustained injuries. Eyewitnesses reported significant damage to the building and a destroyed car outside the restaurant.
Investigation and Claim of Responsibility
Kabul police launched an investigation following the explosion, with the initial nature of the blast reported as unknown. The Islamic State group later claimed responsibility for the attack.
In its statement claiming responsibility, the local branch of the Islamic State cited "increasing crimes against the oppressed Uyghur Muslims," indicating China was a target. China has faced accusations of committing human rights abuses against its Uyghur population and other predominantly Muslim ethnic groups in the Xinjiang region, allegations which the Chinese government denies.
Explosions in Kabul have become less frequent since the Taliban's return to power in 2021, though affiliates of ISIL (ISIS) continue to conduct sporadic attacks within Afghanistan.
China's Response
Following the incident, China's foreign ministry spokesman, Guo Jiakun, stated on Tuesday that Beijing had made "urgent representations with the Afghan side." China demanded that the Taliban government prioritize treating the injured and implement effective measures to safeguard Chinese citizens in Afghanistan. Additionally, China has advised its citizens against travel to Afghanistan.
This incident follows previous attacks targeting Chinese interests. The Islamic State had previously claimed responsibility for an attack on a Chinese-owned hotel in Kabul in 2022. More recently, six Chinese nationals were killed in three separate incidents in Tajikistan near the Tajik-Afghan border in November, leading Beijing to advise its citizens to leave that specific area.