An explosion occurred at a Chinese-operated restaurant situated within a well-protected area of Kabul, Afghanistan’s capital, resulting in the death of a Chinese national and six Afghans, with several others, including a child, sustaining injuries, as per officials. The restaurant was located in the bustling Shahr-e-Naw district of Kabul, known for housing various commercial establishments, offices, and diplomatic missions, stated police spokesperson Khalid Zadran. This particular area is typically considered one of the safest in the city. The Afghan branch of the Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attack, stating that it was carried out by a suicide bomber.
The restaurant, managed jointly by a Chinese Muslim individual named Abdul Majid, his spouse, and an Afghan partner named Abdul Jabbar Mahmood, catered to the Chinese Muslim community, according to Zadran. Amaq news agency reported that the local faction of the Islamic State had included Chinese nationals on its list of targets, citing alleged injustices by the Chinese government against Uyghurs.
Reports indicate that the explosion, which tragically claimed the life of one Chinese citizen known as Ayub and six Afghan individuals, occurred near the kitchen area, causing injuries to several others. Social media videos depicted debris strewn outside the restaurant and smoke billowing from a significant breach in the front of the building.
Dejan Panic, the country director for the humanitarian organization EMERGENCY in Afghanistan, mentioned that their hospital had received 20 individuals, including four women and a child, with seven individuals already succumbing to their injuries upon arrival.
Although Afghan authorities have yet to officially determine the cause of the blast, indicating that an investigation is ongoing, the president of Pakistan, a neighboring country, attributed the incident to a bomb explosion. Despite the Taliban assuming control of Afghanistan in 2021 and promising to enhance security, bombings have persisted, with many being claimed by the local faction of the militant Islamic State group.
