The Afghan government on Thursday raised concerns about remarks made by the head of the National Solidarity Movement of Afghanistan, Sayed Ishaq Gailani, and said his statements had not been in the interests of Afghanistan.

Gailani said at a recent meeting in Islamabad that the Afghan government provides the context for India to interfere in Pakistan using Afghanistan soil.

The Directorate of National Security (NDS) said Gailani’s remarks had been against Afghanistan’s interests and that the matter would be referred to judicial departments for investigation.

“Afghanistan soil will be used against no country and we expect the same from other countries,” the president’s deputy spokesman Dawa Khan Minapal said.

“India use Afghanistan and use its soil against Pakistan. There is no doubt about this. They do this and why has this context been provided to them? Why has such a condition come that Afghan government and a number of people provide the situation for India to interfere in Pakistan,” said Gailani.

Gailani’s remarks come at a time that the US has increased pressure on Pakistan over providing safe havens to insurgent groups.

Speaking in Islamabad, Ghailani said he lived in Pakistan for 26 years and two of his daughters live there. He said Pakistan was like his second home.

He went on to say the current war by the Taliban against foreign forces was no different to the war fought by Mujahideen against the Soviet Union.

“Afghan Taliban fight against the US and we should respect them. We should not see them as bad people although they are being called insurgents. They are in a condition that we were in. We were fighting against the Russians and they fight against the Americans,” Gailani said.

In the meantime, a number of political analysts and MPs said Gailani’s remarks were the same as what Pakistani army generals and Inter Service Intelligence members claim.

“The other regret is that when Gailani speaks, Afghan ambassador is sitting there and nods in agreement of Gailani's remarks,” university lecturer Ahmad Saiedi said.

“A number of Afghans have remained in the hands of the intelligence of another country and they probably have documents about such people to force them never to leave them,” MP Abdul Jabar Qahraman said.

A number of Kabul residents meanwhile said Gailani’s remarks were in support of Pakistan and against the Afghan people and Afghan interests.

“They are working for Pakistan and they never want Afghanistan to rebuild,” Kabul resident Abdul Khaliq said.

“(No matter) if he was a general, minister or president, (he) is working for ISI and this is national treason,” Kabul resident Elham said.