Islamabad. Afghan diplomats in Pakistan refused to stand up during the playing of Pakistan’s national anthem. They remained seated while the anthem was being played. One of the diplomats was using his mobile phone. The incident took place during an official event organised in Peshawar to mark the birth anniversary of Prophet Muhammad. The event was attended by Afghanistan Taliban-appointed Consul General Hafiz Mohibullah Shakir and his deputy. Pakistan Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mumtaz Zehra Baloch issued a statement strongly condemning the act.
He said, Insulting the national anthem of the host country is against diplomatic etiquette. This act of the Acting Consul General of Afghanistan is reprehensible. We are registering our strong objection to this to the Afghan authorities in Islamabad and Kabul. The event was organized by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur. Afghan diplomats were also invited to the ceremony, but their behavior has been seen as a violation of diplomatic protocol during the Pakistani national anthem.
Reacting to the controversy, a spokesperson for the Afghan Consulate in Peshawar clarified that the diplomats had no intention to disrespect Pakistan. “The Afghan Consul General did not stand up because the national anthem had music. We have banned our national anthem because of the music in it. The Afghan diplomats would have definitely stood up in respect of the Pakistani national anthem if it was played without music,” the spokesperson said.