'Ensure safety of our nationals': Beijing to Taliban after Chinese restaurant blast in Kabul; Islamic State claims responsibility

Beijing on Tuesday asked Afghanistan's Taliban regime to ensure the safety of Chinese nationals and projects following a deadly explosion at a Chinese restaurant in Kabul.

According to the state-run Xinhua news agency, 20 people were killed in the blast on Monday.




One Chinese citizen died, and five others were injured, foreign ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun told reporters.

“China expresses deep condolences over the lives lost and heartfelt sympathies to the injured. We have lodged urgent representations with the Afghan authorities, urging them to make every possible effort to save and treat the injured, ensure the safety of Chinese nationals, projects and institutions, thoroughly investigate the attack, and bring those responsible to justice at the earliest,” Guo Jiakun said.

The spokesperson added that Beijing “strongly condemns and firmly opposes any form of terrorism” and supports Afghanistan and regional countries in “jointly fighting all forms of terrorism and violent activities.”

Guo also reiterated that the foreign ministry advises Chinese nationals not to travel to Afghanistan due to the current security situation.He further advised that individuals and companies already in Afghanistan should enhance their security measures or leave high-risk areas "as soon as possible."

Islamic State claims responsibility

Meanwhile, the Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the bombing and threatened further attacks, citing Beijing’s treatment of Uyghur Muslims in China.

“A suicide bomber entered the restaurant frequented by Chinese nationals in Kabul and detonated an explosive vest,” read a purported IS statement.

The attack took place at a Chinese restaurant in the Shahr-e-Naw district of the Afghan capital, according to police spokesperson Khalid Zadran, who added that the restaurant was jointly owned by an Afghan man, a Chinese national, and his wife.

According to the Afghan interior ministry the incident is still being probed and a cause is yet to be ascertained.

While nearly all nations withdrew from Afghanistan following the Taliban offensive of 2021 that led to them seizing Kabul, China has maintained a major economic presence in the country. Beijing has yet to formally recognize Afghanistan’s Taliban-run government.

(With agency inputs)