On Monday afternoon, the Afghan capital, Kabul, witnessed a horrific security incident in the form of a powerful explosion that targeted a hotel located in the city center, resulting in a large number of casualties, both dead and wounded, in an incident that once again highlights the ongoing security challenges facing the country.
Details of the incident and the number of victims
The Italian NGO Emergency, which runs a specialized surgical center in Kabul, confirmed that the explosion killed at least seven people. In an official statement, the organization said that the hospital received 20 people transferred from the scene of the incident in the nearby Shahr-e-Naw district, seven of whom had already died before receiving treatment.
Dejan Panic, the organization's country director, explained that among the thirteen injured receiving treatment were "four women and a child," indicating that the explosion occurred in a densely populated civilian area. Eyewitnesses described the force of the blast, with a local flower shop owner reporting hearing a massive explosion around 3:30 p.m. local time, describing the ensuing panic and seeing several injured people being carried away.
Security response and field situation
On the official level, Kabul police spokesman Khalid Zadran confirmed the explosion inside a hotel on Golfaroshi Street in District 4, stating there were casualties but without disclosing the type of explosives used. Interior Ministry spokesman Abdul Matin Qani also confirmed fatalities and injuries, while security forces cordoned off the area, which includes restaurants and other vital facilities. Police vehicles and ambulances were seen rushing to the scene.
The security context and current challenges in Afghanistan
This attack comes at a sensitive time as the current authorities in Afghanistan have been trying to establish security and stability since taking power in August 2021. Although the pace of violence has decreased compared to previous years, the capital Kabul and other cities still witness sporadic attacks, often claimed by the “ISIS-Khorasan Province” organization, which represents the most prominent security challenge to the current government.
The Shahr-e-Naw area, where the explosion occurred, is an important commercial center that includes many offices, shops and hotels frequented by foreigners and local businessmen, making targeting it an attempt to strike at the economic nerve and the image of stability in the capital.
International dimensions and impact of the attack
Media reports, including from China's Xinhua news agency, indicated that Chinese citizens were seriously injured in the incident, giving the attack an international dimension. China is one of the few countries that has maintained an active diplomatic and commercial presence in Afghanistan in recent years.
Observers believe that targeting residences of foreign nationals could negatively impact Kabul's efforts to attract the foreign investment needed to revive Afghanistan's struggling economy. Ensuring the security of diplomatic missions and foreign investors is a true test of the Afghan security forces' ability to fulfill their commitments to the international community to provide a safe and stable environment.
