A Chinese national tragically lost his life while working in northeastern Afghanistan, according to statements from Taliban officials on Wednesday. The militant group opposing the Taliban has claimed responsibility for the incident, asserting that the individual was collaborating with Taliban intelligence.
Since the Taliban regained control of Afghanistan in 2021, incidents involving the killing of foreigners have become uncommon. This case marks a significant event in an environment that has largely been devoid of such occurrences.
The deceased, identified only by the surname Li, was reportedly traveling with an interpreter to the Dasht-e-Qala district on Tuesday when he was attacked by “unknown individuals,” as explained by Taliban police spokesman Mohammed Akbar. Fortunately, the interpreter was unharmed during this incident.
Abdul Mateen Qani, the spokesperson for the Interior Ministry, indicated that Li was employed by a mining company. He further noted that authorities had instructed him to notify local security officials before moving through different districts or provinces—a directive he apparently neglected to follow. Qani commented, “This individual didn’t inform local security or his office about his movement. He took the translator with him and fell victim to unidentified assailants.”
This year, Afghanistan has entered into several mining contracts with domestic companies, many of which have foreign partners, including nations such as China, Iran, and Turkey. These contracts cover the extraction and processing of valuable minerals like iron ore, lead, zinc, and gold across four provinces: Herat, Ghor, Logar, and Takhar.
The group claiming responsibility for the attack, known as the National Mobilization Front, opposes Taliban governance. They stated that their operatives specifically targeted the vehicle of the Chinese national. The group also alleged, without providing any evidence, that the man was involved in training Taliban intelligence on how to monitor social media platforms.
In response to queries regarding the incident during a daily briefing, a spokesperson from the Chinese Foreign Ministry, Mao Ning, expressed that she was not informed about the details. “I believe that the Chinese Embassy in Afghanistan will do its utmost to protect the safety of Chinese citizens and we will monitor the situation closely,” she reiterated.
The Taliban has been actively seeking foreign investments and building regional alliances, especially due to their isolation on the global stage caused by restrictions on women and girls. China holds particular significance in these efforts.
In December 2022, China issued a warning to its citizens advising them to exit Afghanistan after a coordinated assault by Islamic State militants targeted a Chinese-owned hotel in Kabul. With support from the Chinese government, Chinese companies are pursuing various opportunities to tap into Afghanistan’s extensive and largely untapped resource reserves, notably the Mes Aynak mine, which is estimated to contain one of the largest copper deposits in the world.
