ISLAMABAD: An explosion ripped through a Chinese-run restaurant in Kabul’sheavily guarded Shahr-e-Naw neighbourhood on Monday, claiming seven livesincluding one Chinese national and six Afghans, while injuring severalothers including a child, raising fresh questions about security underTaliban rule despite official denials of foul play.
The blast occurred in the commercial hub of Shahr-e-Naw, an area dottedwith office buildings, shopping complexes, and embassies, widely regardedas one of Kabul’s safest districts due to intensive security measures.Police spokesperson Khalid Zadran confirmed the explosion took place nearthe kitchen of a noodle restaurant jointly operated by a Chinese Muslimnamed Abdul Majid, his wife, and an Afghan partner Abdul Jabbar Mahmood,primarily serving the Chinese Muslim community.
Initial reports from the Italian NGO Emergency, which operates a surgicalcentre nearby, indicated that twenty casualties were received, with sevenpronounced dead upon arrival, including victims suffering from lacerationsand bruises. The organisation’s country director highlighted theprovisional nature of the toll, underscoring the chaotic aftermath andongoing medical assessments for survivors.
The Islamic State Khorasan Province, known as ISKP or ISIS-K, swiftlyclaimed responsibility through its channels, describing the incident as adeliberate suicide bombing aimed at Chinese interests. The group hashistorically justified such attacks by citing Beijing’s policies towardUyghur Muslims in Xinjiang, framing them as retaliation against perceivedoppression and the Taliban’s growing economic ties with China.
Taliban authorities, however, attributed the explosion to a gas leak,dismissing terrorism allegations and insisting investigations were underwayto determine the exact cause. This divergence in narratives reflects apattern observed since the Taliban’s 2021 takeover, where the group hasrepeatedly downplayed militant threats to project restored stability, evenas sporadic bombings persist in urban centres.
ISKP, the local affiliate of the global Islamic State group, has emerged asthe most persistent challenger to Taliban authority in Afghanistan.Operating primarily in eastern provinces like Nangarhar and Kunar, thegroup has conducted numerous high-profile attacks since 2021, including thedeadly Kabul airport bombing that killed over 170 people during the U.S.withdrawal.
Despite Taliban counterterrorism operations, ISKP maintains resiliencethrough recruitment, propaganda, and infiltration attempts into securityranks, according to United Nations assessments. The group’s attacks oftentarget civilians, minorities, and foreign entities, aiming to undermine theTaliban’s claims of providing security and expose vulnerabilities ingovernance.
China’s deepening engagement with Afghanistan since 2021 has includedeconomic investments in mining and infrastructure, making its nationals andbusinesses prime targets for ISKP. Previous incidents, such as the 2022assault on a Kabul hotel frequented by Chinese visitors and more recentstrikes on mining operations in border regions, illustrate a consistentpattern of hostility toward Beijing’s presence.
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The latest blast comes amid broader regional concerns over militantactivities spilling across borders, particularly affecting Pakistan andCentral Asian states. Analysts note that ISKP exploits ideologicalgrievances and sectarian divides to sustain operations, while the Taliban’spragmatic diplomacy with China, including high-level meetings, fuels thegroup’s rhetoric against the ruling Emirate.
Casualties from such attacks highlight the human cost of ongoinginstability in Afghanistan, where the Taliban has struggled to eliminatethreats despite initial promises of peace. International observers,including humanitarian organisations, continue to call for enhancedprotection for civilians and foreign workers in key urban areas.
The incident also underscores the challenges facing China’s Belt and RoadInitiative ambitions in the region, where security risks from groups likeISKP could deter further investment. As investigations proceed, theconflicting accounts of gas leak versus terrorism will likely fuel debatesover the true state of security in post-2021 Afghanistan.
Source:https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/several-killed-blast-afghan-capital-kabul-taliban-interior-ministry-says-2026-01-19
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