Iran summoned Afghan envoy for disrespecting anthem

(Patria) - Iran yesterday summoned the acting head of the Afghan embassy after an Afghan official reportedly disrespected the country's national anthem by not standing during its playing, days after a similar incident in Pakistan, AFP reported.

Following the incident at a conference in Tehran on Islamic unity, the Afghan delegate apologized but said it was because the Taliban bans music in public.

A statement from Iran's foreign ministry said a "strong protest" was lodged following his "unconventional and unacceptable action".

They accused the representative of Kabul at the Islamic Unity Conference of "disrespecting the national anthem of the Islamic Republic".

The foreign ministry "condemned this action, which is against diplomatic customs".

Afghanistan's representative remained seated when the Iranian anthem was played, similar to an event involving Afghan officials in Pakistan.

"Besides the obvious need for a guest to respect the symbols of the host country, respecting the anthems of countries is an internationally recognized behavior," the Iranian statement added.

Islamabad on Tuesday summoned Afghanistan's charge d'affaires over the "disrespect of the national anthem" by Afghanistan's acting consul general and another official at an event in Peshawar on Monday, Pakistani officials said.

Pakistani media quoted a spokesperson for the Afghan consulate as saying the officials did not stand because of the music and that it did not mean disrespect.

"As the anthem had music, the consul general and the official did not stand. We have banned our national anthem because of music," the Afghan spokesperson said.

On Friday, the Afghan official in Tehran at the conference issued a video apology, saying he did not intend to show disrespect, but that sitting during anthems was their custom.

Iran shares a 900-kilometer border with Afghanistan but has not officially recognized the Taliban government since it took power in August 2021 after US forces withdrew.