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China Urges Citizens to Refrain From Visiting Afghanistan After Kabul Explosion Kills Seven

By The South Asia Times

KABUL - China has urged its citizens to refrain from traveling to Afghanistan, the Chinese Embassy in Kabul said, citing ongoing security risks following a deadly explosion in the Afghan capital.

In a notice issued on Monday after the explosion, the embassy renewed its warning against travel to Afghanistan after an explosion struck central Kabul on Monday evening, killing at least seven people, including a Chinese national, and injuring 13 others.

According to China’s state-run Xinhua News Agency, two Chinese citizens were among those seriously injured and were rushed to hospital for treatment.

The blast underscored persistent security concerns in the country despite assurances by Afghan authorities, prompting Beijing to reiterate calls for heightened caution and strict security awareness among Chinese nationals and businesses operating in Afghanistan.

On Monday, Khalid Zadran, spokesperson for the Kabul Police Command, said that 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.

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.