A powerful explosion tore through a Chinese-run restaurant in the heart of Kabul's Shahr-e-Naw district on Monday, killing seven people and injuring more than a dozen others. The attack, claimed by the Islamic State's Afghan affiliate, targeted a popular spot frequented by Chinese expatriates and locals alike.

The suicide bombing struck near the restaurant's kitchen during peak hours, blowing a massive hole in the front facade and sending debris flying across the crowded street. Eyewitnesses recounted a deafening blast followed by thick smoke and chaos as diners and passersby scrambled to escape. Among the dead were six Afghans and one Chinese national identified as Ayub, with victims including women and a child rushed to nearby hospitals.

Owned by Chinese Muslim Abdul Majid, his wife, and local partner Abdul Jabbar Mahmood, the eatery served noodles and dishes beloved by Kabul's small Chinese Muslim community. It stood as a symbol of China's expanding footprint in Afghanistan post-2021 Taliban takeover, amid Beijing's interest in mining and infrastructure deals. The IS claim via its Amaq agency fits their pattern of hitting Chinese-linked sites, challenging Taliban security pledges to attract foreign investment.

China swiftly condemned the violence, urging a thorough investigation and enhanced safeguards for its citizens and projects, after five nationals were wounded. Taliban forces cordoned off the area but reopened streets quickly, downplaying the breach in one of Kabul's most fortified zones packed with embassies and offices. The incident underscores ongoing instability, as Afghanistan grapples with economic woes and militant threats despite Taliban rule.