A suicide bomber attacked a Chinese restaurant in Kabul, Afghanistan, killing one Chinese national and six Afghan civilians. Several others, including a child, were wounded.
Police spokesperson Khalid Zadran said the restaurant, jointly operated by Chinese Muslims and an Afghan partner, served the local Chinese Muslim community.
A bomb blast hit Shahr-e-Naw, central Kabul, near a hotel/restaurant today.
Multiple civilians were killed and injured, exact numbers still unclear.
China’s state media reports two Chinese citizens were seriously wounded.
The cause is under investigation; no claim of… pic.twitter.com/xlEFIR5Y9A
— Clash Report (@clashreport) January 19, 2026
Afghanistan’s ISIS branch called Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP) later claimed responsibility, saying that Chinese citizens were targeted over growing crimes by the Chinese government against Uyghurs.
“The Islamic State in Afghanistan has placed Chinese nationals on its list of targets, especially in light of the escalating crimes committed by the Chinese government against the oppressed Uyghur Muslims,” ISIS’ statement read.
Recent attacks by ISKP have targeted both Taliban members and civilians.
In January 2023, ISKP claimed responsibility for a suicide bombing outside Kabul’s Foreign Ministry that killed at least 20.
A similar attack struck a Kabul sports club in October 2023, leaving at least four dead. In December 2024, a suicide bombing outside the Refugee Ministry, also claimed by ISKP, killed Minister Khalil Haqqani and six others.
if the iskp do not have valid grievances, they should be easy to defeat.if their grievances are valid, then their destructive potential and solutions can be redirected toward more constructive and beneficial solutions.
if them being constructive positively, is a threat to the status quo, then they have already won.