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Explosion Hits Restaurant in Central Kabul, Kills Two and Injures Several Including Chinese Nationals

By Zia Afghan

KABUL - An explosion struck a restaurant in the Shahr-e-Naw area of central Kabul on Monday afternoon, killing at least two people and injuring around 10 others, including Chinese nationals, Afghan officials and local media reported.

Khalid Zadran, spokesperson for the Kabul Police Command, confirmed that the blast occurred in the busy district and resulted in casualties.

He said investigation teams have been dispatched to determine the nature and cause of the explosion, adding that further details would be shared once the inquiry progresses.

A local security official in Kabul told The South Asia Times that the death toll could be higher, with at least two fatalities confirmed so far and approximately 10 people injured. The official added that all the wounded, including the Chinese nationals, were taken to nearby hospitals.

Chinese State-run Xinhua News Agency reported that the explosion killed an Afghan security officer and seriously wounded two Chinese citizens, who were rushed to hospital for treatment.

While no group has claimed responsibility, the local official said the Chinese nationals appeared to have been targeted, though authorities stressed that this assessment remains preliminary and subject to the ongoing investigation.

The Shahr-e-Naw district, a commercial and diplomatic hub of Kabul, has witnessed several attacks in recent years despite heightened security measures. Afghan authorities said the area was cordoned off following the blast as forensic teams examined the scene and security forces increased patrols.

China has maintained a diplomatic presence and economic interests in Afghanistan since the Taliban takeover in 2021, with Chinese nationals occasionally targeted in past attacks, raising ongoing security concerns.