ISIS Claims Responsibility for Chinese National Killed in Afghanistan

An Afghan man is silhouetted during sunset, at Bangala area in the Chimtal district of Balkh province on January 19, 2025. (Photo by Atif Aryan / AFP)

ISIS has claimed responsibility for the killing of a Chinese national in Afghanistan's northern Takhar province, in a post on its Telegram channel late on Wednesday.
Afghan police in the province had said on Wednesday that a Chinese citizen was murdered and a preliminary investigation had been launched, but it was not clear who was behind the attack, Reuters reported.
ISIS said it had targeted a vehicle carrying the Chinese citizen, which led to his death and damage to his vehicle.
China's foreign ministry said on Thursday it was "deeply shocked" by the attack and had demanded that the Afghan side thoroughly investigate the incident and severely punish the perpetrators.
"We urge the Afghan interim government to take resolute and effective measures to ensure the security of Chinese civil institutions and projects in Afghanistan," ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said at a regular press briefing.
China was the first country to appoint an ambassador to Afghanistan under the Taliban and has said it wants to boost trade and investment ties.