A powerful blast ripped through Kabul’s upscale Shahr-e-Naw district, shattering the Taliban’s claims of control. Smoke billowed over hotels and cafes as panic swept the streets. Hospitals reported rising casualties, with doctors warning the toll could climb. Early reports say Chinese nationals were among the dead, reviving fears that ISIS-K is targeting Beijing’s footprint in Afghanistan. The strike has exposed deep cracks in Taliban security and raised questions over a new wave of urban terror. As China expands its Afghan bet, Kabul’s “secure zones” now look dangerously vulnerable.
E-Paper
