The authorities installed by the Taliban after seizing power in August 2021 have promised to improve security for foreign diplomatic missions and businesses in the country following recent attacks in Kabul on the Pakistani Embassy and a hotel owned by a Chinese businessman.
According to reports carried by the Afghan television channel Ariana, Afghan security agencies have promised to use all resources to ensure the security of these facilities and also improve the protection of citizens.
The Islamic State jihadist group claimed responsibility for both attacks, which have prompted China to ask its citizens to leave the country «as soon as possible». Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin stressed Tuesday that «in view of the security situation» in Afghanistan, Chinese in the country are also advised to «take additional precautionary measures.»
He also confirmed that five citizens of the Asian giant were wounded in the attack and added that «several Afghan policemen were killed,» without giving further details. The Taliban assured that the attack resulted in only two wounded, while the Islamic State claimed 30 victims, between dead and wounded.
The event took place a day after the Afghan deputy prime minister, Mohamad Abas Stanikzai, met in Kabul with the Chinese ambassador, Wang Yu, to assure him that the Taliban guarantee the safety of diplomatic representatives and facilities in the country after the recent attacks against the Pakistani and Russian embassies.
For his part, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had demanded days earlier that the Taliban investigate and take action against those responsible for the attack on the Pakistani ambassador in Kabul, which left one security personnel seriously injured.
The attack was perpetrated days after a Pakistani delegation visited Kabul to address the escalating violence on the common border and also to discuss the announcement by the armed group Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), known as the Pakistani Taliban, to declare an end to the ceasefire after several months of talks brokered by the Afghan Taliban.
