On Jan. 19, an explosion occurred at a Chinese restaurant in the Afghanistan neighborhood of Shahr-e-Naw, killing a Chinese national and at least six Afghans, as well as injuring several others. On the same day, jihadist militant group the Islamic State of Iraq and the Syria (ISIS) claimed responsibility for the attack (Al Jazeera 2025). ISIS is known as the Islamic State of Khorasan Province (ISKP) in Afghanistan.  ISKP claimed they attacked the restaurant because of “growing crimes by the Chinese government against Uyghurs,” (Al Jazeera 2025). According to the United Nations Assessment in 2022, China’s crimes against humanity targeting Uyghurs in Xinjiang include restrictions on human rights and arbitrary detention; the assessment also noted allegations of torture. 

The identification with Uyghurs, and other marginalized Muslims, is a common theme in extremist Islam. However, despite being notorious for hosting extremist Islam, Afghanistan has limited choices on which states they interact with because of international sanctions. China is a significant trade partner with Afghanistan. Afghanistan does not have many opportunities to trade, so they are willing to forego parts of their ideology for state stability. Since coming to power, the Taliban government has become a more pragmatic state, and not just an extremist, religious terrorist group. They have been trying to increase tourism to the country, particularly from China, demonstrated by growing construction projects, such as a road connection between the two states, and expanding Chinese culture, such as food diplomacy.

However, according to the Economist, ISPK regards the Taliban as “sell-outs to the West” because of their cooperation with non-Islamic states like China and Russia. The ISPK’s estimated numbers are less than 5,000. However, their attack on the Chinese restaurant demonstrates their military capabilities, and their willingness to use it against the Taliban’s non-Islamic allies. 

The Taliban must be strategic in their handling of ISKP’s explicit terrorist attack on Chinese nationals. Without effective bonds to China, the Taliban loses a significant amount of legitimacy and economic power. If the Taliban wants to be seen as the legitimate ruler of Afghanistan, they must find a way to distance themselves from the ISKP’s terror attacks.