Pakistan has become the focus of suspicion after a suicide bombing in the heart of Taliban-administered Kabul targeted members of Chinese delegation on January 11. The delegation was due to meet the Taliban officials in the Afghan foreign ministry, when a suicide bomber was seen detonating himself, claiming at least 20 casualties.
Wednesday’s attack outside the Afghan foreign ministry was the second in less than a month in which Chinese people living in Afghanistan were principal targets of the Islamic State (Khorasan) group. On December 10, 2022, members of Islamic State-Khorasan (IS-K) stormed a hotel frequented by Chinese business people, wounding at least five Chinese nationals.
According to Brigadier (retd.) Arun Sahgal, Executive Director of New Delhi-based Forum for Strategic Initiative, the January 11 attack outside foreign ministry in Kabul highlights that “Taliban political leadership is not fully in control” of the country’s state of affairs.
“IS-K does not want Chinese presence and intends to scare away the investments,” he added, referring to a 25 year deal signed by Chinese Company, Xinjiang Central Asia Petroleum Corporation for extracting oil from Amu Darya on the Afghan-Uzbek border.
But there is much more to IS-K’s intentions to scare away Chinese investments with Islamabad being a central figure of authoritative influence.