Kabul, Afghanistan – A suicide bombing claimed by the Islamic State Khorasan (ISIS-K) struck a Chinese noodle restaurant in Kabul's Shahr-e-Naw district on January 19, 2026, killing seven people and injuring at least 13 others. The attack, which occurred around 3 p.m. local time, targeted a venue co-owned by Chinese Muslim Abdul Majeed (or Majid) from Xinjiang, his wife, and Afghan partner Abdul Jabbar Mahmoud, popular among Uyghur expatriates. The bomber detonated explosives near the kitchen, killing one Chinese national—identified as Ayub or Abdul Rahman—and six Afghans. Among the wounded were women and a child, some critically treated at EMERGENCY hospital.
ISIS-K's Amaq agency claimed responsibility, exaggerating casualties at 25 including Chinese nationals and Taliban guards, and cited China's alleged oppression of Uyghurs as motive, vowing more attacks. Taliban officials confirmed the deaths but are investigating the cause, while China demanded better protection for its citizens and reported five injured nationals.
Social media footage revealed smoke, debris, and a damaged facade at the site, known as China Lanzhou Beef Noodle. The Kabul restaurant bombing highlights ongoing security threats to foreign interests amid Taliban rule.
