Director Kabir Khan is shocked by Afghanistan's response to his Kabul Express.

Last weekend, the Afghan government banned screenings of the film in Afghanistan, as they felt it contained derogatory messages against one of the ethnic groups, Hazara.

Najib Manali, the Culture Minister of Afghanistan said in a statement, "The film has some sentences that are offensive against the Hazara community, and therefore we have decided to ban the film."

Hazara is an ethnic tribe, comprising mostly of Shia muslims. It is believed they are descendants of Mongol warrior Genghis Khan's armies.

Kabir Khan expressed great shock on the minister's statement by stating that his film was not even releasing in Afghanistan, so technically the word ban is not applicable.

"We have not yet released the film in any of the Afghanistan theatres, so I don't understand how Kabul Express can be banned in Afghanistan? I am surprised to hear this news," said the director.

Asked whether Kabul Express really carried some dialogues that were offensive in nature for Hazara ethnic group, Khan said, "I don't want to comment on this issue. I feel that people will feel that I am getting cheap publicity for my film if I say anything more about this controversy."

The Afghan government has already ordered a seizure on the pirated CDs and DVDs of Kabul Express circulating in the local market.

Kabul Express was shot with the full support of Afghan government and lead actors John Abraham and Arshad Warsi stayed for 45 days in the country to shoot the film.