The Islamic State claimed responsibility for a deadly attack on a hotel on Monday, in Kabul.
The group said two of its personnel "attacked a big hotel frequented by Chinese diplomats and businessmen in Kabul, where they detonated two explosive devices hidden inside two bags," one of them targeting a party for Chinese guests and the other targeting the reception hall, AFP reported.
While the Taliban has maintained that national security has improved ever since took over in August this year. However, there have been scores of bomb blasts and attacks, which have been claimed by the local chapter of the Islamic State.
According to witnesses, armed men opened fire inside a building in central Kabul that housed some foreigners. Reportedly, one or two of the attackers threw hand grenades at the Taliban officers who were trying to stop them. The other fighters began detonating explosives they had attached to hotel room doors and firing at hotel guests.
18 injured were taken to Kabul's Emergency Hospital. The other three were proclaimed dead on arrival. China's state-run Xinhua news agency said its embassy in Kabul was closely monitoring the situation. On December 11, Afghanistan's deputy foreign minister met with China's ambassador to discuss security-related matters.
