Firefighters respond at the site of an explosion in Kabul, Afghanistan, 19 January 2026. Kabul police said, a blast struck near a Afghan-Chinese Muslim restaurant in Shahr-e-Naw, killing seven and injuring others. The cause remains under investigation. Photo: VCG

In response to media inquiries about reports that the Islamic State has claimed responsibility for the explosion outside a Chinese restaurant in Kabul, Afghanistan, on Monday afternoon, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said that the explosion caused multiple casualties, including one Chinese national killed and five others injured, and that China expresses deep condolences over the death of the Chinese national and sincere sympathy to those injured.

China has lodged an urgent representation with the Afghan side, urging it to make every effort to treat the wounded, take further effective measures to protect the safety of Chinese nationals, projects and institutions in Afghanistan, promptly ascertain the truth and punish the perpetrators, and that the Chinese Embassy in Afghanistan has visited the hospital where the injured are being treated to convey condolences, said Guo.  

Guo said China strongly condemns and firmly opposes terrorism in all its forms and supports Afghanistan and countries in the region in jointly combating all forms of terrorist and violent activities, adding that in light of the current security situation in Afghanistan, the Chinese Foreign Ministry once again advises Chinese citizens to refrain from traveling to Afghanistan in the near future, and urges Chinese nationals and enterprises already in Afghanistan to heighten vigilance, strengthen security measures, and withdraw from high-risk areas as soon as possible.

Earlier, the Chinese Embassy in Afghanistan told the Global Times on Tuesday that no further confirmed information is available yet and the case is still under verification, adding that it is urging the Afghan side to conduct a prompt investigation while assisting the injured Chinese nationals in receiving medical treatment.

The explosion occurred in the Shahr-e-Naw area of downtown Kabul, causing multiple civilian casualties. At least 20 people, including women and children, were taken to EMERGENCY's Surgical Center in Kabul following the explosion, with seven declared dead on arrival, the humanitarian organization said, according to Xinhua. 

After the explosion, police immediately secured the site for cleanup and evidence collection, with partial access restored only in the evening. As of late Monday local time, Afghan authorities had not issued any statement classifying the blast as a terrorist attack. Earlier, a spokesperson for Afghanistan's Ministry of Interior said the explosion occurred near a Chinese restaurant and that an explosive device was found at the scene, according to Xinhua.

As of press time, the Afghan government has yet to issue a statement classifying this explosion as a terrorist attack. According to the Aljazeera, The Afghan branch of ISIL (ISIS) later claimed responsibility for Monday's attack, saying in a statement that it was carried out by a suicide bomber. 

Blasts in Kabul and across Afghanistan have been rarer since the Taliban returned to power after the US withdrawal in 2021, but ISIL affiliates are still active in the country and carry out sporadic attacks, the Al Jazeera said. 

Monday's blast took place in the commercial Shahr-e-Naw area that is home to offices, shopping complexes and embassies, Afghan police spokesperson Khalid Zadran said. It is considered one of the safest neighborhoods in the city, according to the Reuters.

Following the explosion, the Chinese Embassy in Afghanistan issued a notice on Monday, once again urging Chinese citizens to refrain from traveling to Afghanistan. 

The embassy's notice said that the current security situation in Afghanistan remains complex and severe. In light of the explosion, the embassy reiterated its reminder that Chinese citizens should temporarily avoid traveling to Afghanistan.