Kabul, January 19, 2026: An explosion ripped through a hotel in central Kabul on Monday, killing seven people and injuring several others, officials said. The blast occurred in the Shahr-e-Naw neighbourhood, a commercial area known for its offices, shopping complexes, and embassies, and generally considered one of the safest districts in the Afghan capital.
Kabul police spokesperson Khalid Zadran confirmed the casualties, while videos circulating on social media showed debris scattered across the street and smoke pouring from a large hole in the hotel’s facade.
Dejan Panic, Country Director of humanitarian group EMERGENCY in Afghanistan, said, “So far, we have received 20 people at our hospital. Among the wounded are four women and a child … unfortunately, seven people were already dead on arrival.”
The cause of the explosion is currently under investigation. Since taking control of Afghanistan in 2021, the Taliban have pledged to restore security, but bomb attacks—often claimed by the local Islamic State affiliate—continue to occur across the country.
