Afghanistan: 7 Killed in Explosion at Chinese Restaurant in Central Kabul

SadaNews - At least seven people were killed and others were injured due to an explosion that occurred on Monday at a Chinese restaurant in the Shar-Naw area of the Afghan capital Kabul, according to police and emergency services.

The SITE monitoring group reported that the "ISIS" organization claimed responsibility for the attack, indicating that its branch in Afghanistan has listed Chinese citizens among its targets.

Kabul police spokesperson Khalid Zadran stated that the deceased included a Chinese Muslim named Ayoub and six Afghans, while a number of the injured were transferred to hospitals for treatment.

He added that the explosion occurred near the kitchen of a noodle restaurant that is frequented mostly by Chinese Muslims.

An AFP reporter observed police cars and an ambulance at the site of the explosion, which echoed in a street known for its flower vendors in the Shar-Naw area.

Windows of a nearby building appeared to be shattered.

In a statement, the Italian NGO "Emergency" announced that its hospital in Kabul received seven corpses and performed surgeries on thirteen injured individuals, including four women and a child.

Eyewitnesses reported that a loud blast shook the area on Monday afternoon, causing windows of nearby buildings to shatter, before authorities reopened the road to traffic after several hours.

This attack comes at a time when Afghan authorities are seeking to stabilize security and attract foreign investments, amidst an increasing Chinese economic presence in the country since the Taliban's return to power in 2021.

In 2022, ISIS claimed responsibility for a deadly attack targeting a hotel in Kabul frequented by Chinese tourists.

China, which shares a 76-kilometer border with Afghanistan, has close relations with the Taliban government.