Kabul Express is the first international feature film to have been shot in Kabul after the end of the Taliban. It was shot over a period of 45 days from October to December 2005. The cast and crew were sent death treats by the Taliban to stop shooting but the Afghan government provided tight security and enabled the shoot to be completed in Afghanistan. On some days there were more armed soldiers than crew on the location.

The film is inspired by Director, Kabir Khan's own experiences in Afghanistan as a documentary film-maker. His encounters and exchanges with Taliban prisoners were the staring point for the script. Kabul Express is his first feature and is a thriler spanning 48 hours involving five individuals-two Indians (John Abraham and Arshad warsi), a Pakistani (Salman Shahid), an Afghan (Hanif Hum Gum) and an American (Linda Arsenio). Interestingly, all actors in this film have been cast according to the nationality of the characters.

Produced by Ysh Raj Films- the most successful and largest studio of the Indian Film Industry- Kabul Express marks a departure from their usual Hindi mainstream larger than life extravagances.