Explosion in a restaurant in Afghan capital kills at least 7 and injures a dozen more

At least seven people were killed and around a dozen wounded after an explosion ripped through a Chinese restaurant in downtown Kabul on Monday, according to local officials and an international aid organization working in the Afghan capital.

The blast occurred in the Shahr-e-Naw district, a relatively upscale area that houses many businesses and diplomatic missions in Afghanistan’s capital city. Khalid Zadran, spokesman for the Kabul police command, confirmed that the restaurant was jointly owned by an Afghan man, a Chinese national, and his wife.

“The restaurant was popular with Chinese Muslims,” Zadran said, adding that one Chinese national and six Afghans were among those killed. According to initial reports, the explosion took place near the kitchen area of the establishment.

The Italian humanitarian organization EMERGENCY, which runs a surgical center near the blast site, reported receiving 20 casualties, including seven who were already dead upon arrival. Dejan Panic, EMERGENCY’s country director in Afghanistan, said the wounded included four women and a child.

“The wounded, some of whom are being assessed for surgery, have suffered lacerations and bruises,” Panic explained. The organization noted that these figures were still provisional, suggesting the death toll could rise.

Chinese state broadcaster CCTV provided slightly different details, reporting that two Chinese nationals were seriously injured in the incident and a security guard was killed. The discrepancy in casualties reported by different sources highlights the often chaotic aftermath of such incidents in Kabul.

Interior Ministry spokesman Abdul Mateen Qani acknowledged the explosion had resulted in both deaths and injuries but did not provide specific numbers in his initial statement.

Local television station Tolo News broadcast footage showing people running through dust and smoke-filled streets in the aftermath of the explosion. The chaotic scenes underscored the sudden nature of the attack in what has been one of Kabul’s more secure commercial districts.

Authorities have not immediately confirmed the cause of the explosion, saying only that an investigation is underway. The incident comes amid ongoing security challenges in Afghanistan, where the Taliban government has struggled to contain attacks from groups like Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP), the local affiliate of ISIS.

The targeting of a Chinese establishment carries particular significance given China’s growing economic interests in Afghanistan. Since the Taliban’s return to power in August 2021, Beijing has engaged with the de facto authorities, exploring potential investments in Afghanistan’s vast mineral resources, particularly copper and lithium.

In December 2022, ISIS claimed responsibility for an attack on a Kabul hotel popular with Chinese businesspeople, killing at least five Chinese nationals and wounding 18. That attack prompted Beijing to advise its citizens to leave Afghanistan as soon as possible.

Monday’s explosion adds to growing concerns about the safety of foreign nationals and businesses operating in Afghanistan. Despite the Taliban’s claims of improved security since taking power, targeted attacks continue to occur in major urban centers.

The blast also highlights the precarious humanitarian situation in Afghanistan, where medical facilities like EMERGENCY’s surgical center remain crucial in responding to such incidents amid a struggling healthcare system.

Authorities have promised a thorough investigation into the explosion as residents of Kabul once again face the reality of violence disrupting daily life in the Afghan capital.