Kabul, Jan 20 (V7N) — At least seven people were killed and 13 others injured, including children, in a powerful explosion in Afghanistan’s capital Kabul on Tuesday, according to Qatar-based Al Jazeera.

A Chinese national is reported to be among the deceased. The explosion took place at a Chinese restaurant in the Shahr-e-Naw area, one of the city’s most secure and upscale neighborhoods, where foreign diplomats, tourists and expatriates are known to reside.

Shahr-e-Naw hosts several foreign embassies, office buildings and shopping complexes, making the incident particularly alarming. The nature and cause of the explosion were not immediately clear.

Taliban Interior Ministry spokesman Abdul Matin Kani confirmed the incident, saying, “Initially, it is reported that some people were killed and injured in the explosion. Detailed information will be released later.”

Afghan authorities have launched an investigation to determine the cause of the blast.

The incident comes amid ongoing regional security tensions. Last year, Pakistan was accused of carrying out a drone strike in Kabul, an allegation that led to border clashes between the two neighboring countries.

Further details are awaited as the investigation continues.

END/SMA/AJ