7 Dead After Explosion at Hotel in “Safest District” (Video)

Kabul was rocked Monday after a powerful explosion tore through a hotel in one of the Afghan capital’s most heavily guarded districts. Officials confirmed that at least seven people were killed. Many more were injured.

The blast hit a hotel in Shahr-e-Naw, a busy commercial hub known for embassies, malls, and high-rise offices. Local residents call it “the one place in Kabul that’s supposed to be safe.”

Khalid Zadran, spokesperson for Kabul police, said the explosion ripped open the front of the building. “There was smoke everywhere,” he said. “Our teams are still searching the area. Several people were injured. Seven victims died immediately.”

Videos circulating online show shattered glass pouring onto the pavement and a massive hole blown into the façade. Cars are seen swerving around debris as smoke billows into the night sky.

Kabul hotel blast leaves at least 7 dead, multiple injured https://t.co/OVwVOPxHhK pic.twitter.com/E9jlPEcOrF

— New York Post (@nypost) January 19, 2026

Doctors say the toll could rise. “We have received 20 people so far,” said Dejan Panic, Afghanistan Country Director for EMERGENCY, a humanitarian medical group. “Four of them are women. One is a child. Seven patients arrived with no signs of life. Nothing could be done.”

The cause of the blast remains unclear. Afghan authorities say investigators are inside the structure and reviewing surveillance footage.

The attack rattled a city already on edge. The Taliban seized control of Afghanistan in 2021 and repeatedly pledged to restore security after decades of war. But bombings have persisted, many carried out by ISIS-K, the Islamic State affiliate operating in the region.

Security experts warn the pattern is familiar. “These strikes hit civilian areas to send a message,” said one former U.S. counterterror analyst who worked in Kabul before the withdrawal. “It’s a reminder that ISIS-K sees the Taliban as an enemy and the public as expendable.”

Residents nearby said the blast shook surrounding buildings. “I thought it was an earthquake,” said Farid Ahmadi, who lives two blocks away. “Then I heard people screaming. Kabul never feels safe anymore.”

No group has yet claimed responsibility. Officials say updates will come as victim identification continues and structural assessments are completed.

For many Afghans, the attack is a harsh reminder of a promise unkept — a city still waiting for peace.