KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – China has strongly condemned a deadly attack on a Chinese-run restaurant in the Afghanistan capital, Kabul, and has called on the Taliban authorities to swiftly identify and punish those responsible.
The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the attack targeted the “Chinese Noodle” restaurant in the Shahr-e-Naw area of Kabul on Monday afternoon (January 19). According to the ministry’s spokesperson, Guo Jiakun, one Chinese national was killed and five others were injured in the blast.
Speaking at a regular press briefing on Tuesday, Geo said Beijing had urged the Taliban to make every effort to treat the wounded and to take stronger measures to ensure the safety of Chinese citizens, businesses and projects operating in Afghanistan.
The ministry also advised Chinese citizens to avoid traveling to Afghanistan due to the deteriorating security situation. Those already in the country were urged to heighten security precautions and leave high-risk areas as soon as possible. China said it: “strongly condemns and firmly opposes any form of terrorism, supports Afghanistan and regional countries in jointly fighting all forms of terrorist and violent activities.”
The attack occurred at around 3:00 pm local time when a suicide bomber detonated explosive inside the restaurant, located in a busy commercial area known as Gul Forooshi Street. The area is frequented by both locals and foreign nationals.
Taliban police in Kabul said the explosion killed six Afghan civilians and one Chinese citizen. However, the Italian-run Emergency Hospital in Kabul reported that at least 13 other people wounded, including four women and one child. Medical officials said the number of casualties could rise.
The Islamic State group’s regional affiliate, known as Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP), has claimed responsibility for the attack.
Since the Taliban returned to power in August 2021, ISKP has carried out a series of high-profile attacks across Afghanistan, frequently targeting religious minorities, civilians and foreign interests. Despite Taliban claims that security has improved, such incidents continue to raise concerns about the group’s ability to protect diplomats, foreign workers and international investments.
China is one of the few countries that has maintained close engagement with Taliban, particularly through economic and infrastructure projects.
