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Explosion Hits Chinese Restaurant in Central Kabul, Kills 7 Including Chinese National

By Zia Afghan

KABUL - An explosion struck a Chinese restaurant in the Shahr-e-Naw area of central Kabul on Monday afternoon, killing at least seven people including a Chinese national and injuring around 10 others, 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.

According to Khalid Zadran the explosion hit the “Chinese Noodle” joint Chinese-Afghan restaurant in Kabul’s Shahr-e-Naw and those killed include one Chinese Muslim, Ayub, and six Afghans.

Earlie a local security official in Kabul told The South Asia Times that all the wounded, including the Chinese nationals, were taken to nearby hospital.

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.