Terrorist attack keeps Kabul restaurant patrons at bay

“These two people are our only guests since last Friday,” says restaurant owner Mohammad Iqbal Aziz, pointing to a couple in the middle of Le Bistro, in a fortified area of Kabul. Aziz, 64, said many regular patrons are afraid to come out since a terrorist attack that killed 21 people at a popular Lebanese restaurant in relatively safe part of the Afghan capital.

“We mostly serve foreign food, especially French food,” he says. “Thus, our guests are generally foreigners or Afghans living abroad.” There are about 300 restaurants in Kabul, several popular with expatriates because of foreign menus and service. On January 17, a suicide bomber blew himself up at the security entrance of the Taverna du Liban, opening the way for two gunmen to storm the restaurant and shoot diners and staff.

The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack that left 21 dead, including 13 foreigners, calling it “retaliation for the massacre in Ghorband valley by US airstrikes.” “I can tell you that we have not had three guests since the Friday attack,” says Aziz, who established the Le Bristo in 2006 with a French partner who decided to leave the country three years later.

The lone diners this night are Westernised Afghans. “We usually come here to Le Bristo, because they serve tasty food and great coffee,” says Ahmad, who lives in Europe and is in Kabul with an international non-governmental organisation. Looking around at the empty dining room, Ahmad says, “Just 10 days ago you could hardly find a table to sit at, because they were all occupied.” “But now, you can find as many tables as you want,” his friend Ramin says, with an ironic smile.

Mohammad Azim Popal, who owns a Sufi restaurant in Kabul, says the latest attack has also had a “very negative” effect on his business. “It was very good in the past, but after the Friday attack, we have been affected about 90 per cent,” he says. “We had averaged 30 to 40 guests every day, but it is not more than three now.” Another restaurateur, who requested anonymity, said he feared having to close down if the security situation does not improve

“Many Afghans also were dining in our restaurant. We serve food not with a high price,” he said of his Afghan and Indian dishes. “But we have had only four guests since last Friday.” One US citizen working in Kabul said she used to go to restaurants regularly, but not any more. “Now, I don’t feel safe going to restaurants since the attack. I prefer to stay at home for breakfast and dinner,” she said.

“I cook myself or ask the maid to prepare food. I think it is now safer to stay at home, while I eat lunch at the office. I don’t have armed guards at home, but the security is good.” Most local Afghan restaurants appear to be operating normally. “There is no decrease in our guests,” said Ramin, the manager of Herat restaurant in Kabul. Afghan authorities have offered assurances of security.

“Our message to foreigners is to trust the Afghan National Police,” Interior Ministry spokesman Sediq Sediqqi said. “Terrorists have been weakened as they cannot confront the national security forces. So, they cowardly target public areas and civilians. We assure our foreign friends of preventing such cowardly terrorist attacks.” But Aziz is not so sure. “If situation remains like it is now, we will face bankruptcy,” he says. “We have 25 employees whose families depend on the salaries paid by the restaurant. “They will lose their jobs if we don’t have guests.”