Beijing Urges Taliban to Ensure Safety of Chinese Nationals Following Deadly Attack

An explosion at a Chinese restaurant in Kabul has left at least seven people dead, including one Chinese national. This tragic incident has prompted Beijing to call on the Taliban government to safeguard its citizens in Afghanistan, a country where safety for foreign nationals has increasingly become a concern.

Why It Matters

The attack highlights ongoing security challenges in Afghanistan, especially for foreign nationals. With China urging its citizens to stay away from the region, the incident raises questions about the Taliban’s ability to maintain safety and order since seizing power in 2021, as well as the implications for China-Afghanistan relations.

Key Developments

• Explosion occurred at the Chinese Noodle restaurant in Kabul’s Shahr-e-Naw area.
• Six Afghans and one Chinese national were confirmed dead; several others sustained injuries.
• The Islamic State has claimed responsibility for the attack, but Kabul police are still investigating its details.
• China’s foreign ministry has demanded immediate action from the Taliban to protect its citizens and assist the injured.
• Footage from the scene showed significant damage to the restaurant and a nearby car.

Full Report

Details of the Incident

The explosion struck the Chinese Noodle restaurant, located beneath a guesthouse in a heavily monitored area of Kabul. Eyewitnesses reported that a nearby car was completely destroyed. Following the blast, local residents rushed to aid those critically injured, with emergency services transporting 20 individuals to a local hospital, where seven were found dead upon arrival.

Beijing’s Response

In a statement made on Tuesday, Guo Jiakun, spokesman for China’s foreign ministry, expressed urgent concerns regarding the safety of Chinese nationals in Afghanistan. He emphasized that the Taliban must make every effort to ensure the security of Chinese individuals and facilitate treatment for the injured. China has advised its citizens against traveling to Afghanistan since the Taliban’s takeover in 2021.

IS’s Claims and Background

The explosion has been attributed to the Islamic State, which has been responsible for numerous attacks targeting foreign interests in Afghanistan. The group declared that China is a target due to its actions against Uyghur Muslims in Xinjiang. This sentiment stems from allegations faced by China of committing crimes against humanity in that region, a claim that Beijing has consistently denied.

Context & Previous Events

The restaurant primarily catered to Chinese Muslims and is run by a Chinese Muslim individual along with his Afghan business partner. This incident follows a similar attack in 2022, when IS claimed responsibility for an assault on a Chinese-owned hotel in Kabul, where multiple casualties were reported. More recently, Chinese nationals in Tajikistan faced threats, with six individuals killed in separate incidents last November. As a result, Beijing has urged its citizens to vacate areas near the Tajik-Afghan border.