Iran summons Afghan envoy for 'disrespecting' national anthem, days after similar incident in Pakistan – Pakistan

Iran summoned the acting head of the Afghan embassy on Friday after he said an Afghan official had disrespected the country's national anthem by not standing, following a similar incident in Pakistan just days earlier.

Standing during the national anthem is a common gesture of respect and patriotism in many countries. It is often seen as a way to honor the nation and its values.

Pakistan has condemned the “reprehensible disrespect” of an Afghan diplomat towards the country's national anthem after he chose to remain seated as the anthem was played at a Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government event on Tuesday, sparking an uproar on social and mainstream media.

However, the Afghan consulate downplayed the incident and attributed the envoy's decision to remain seated to the “music during the national anthem.”

After the incident at an Islamic unity conference in Tehran, the Afghan delegate apologized but said he did not stand up because the Taliban had banned music in public.

A statement by the Iranian Foreign Ministry said it had lodged a “strong protest” against the Afghan official’s “unconventional and unacceptable actions”.

She accused Kabul’s representative at the Islamic Unity Conference of “disrespecting the national anthem of the Islamic Republic.”

The Foreign Ministry “condemned this action, which violated diplomatic customs.”

The representative of Afghanistan remained seated when the Iranian national anthem was played.

“Apart from the obvious need for the guest to respect the symbols of the host country, respecting the national anthems of other countries is an internationally recognized behavior,” the Iranian statement continued.

On Friday, the Afghan official in charge of the conference in Tehran released a video apology, saying he had not meant to insult the respect but that it was their community's custom to sit during the national anthem.

Iran shares a 900-kilometer-long border with Afghanistan but has not officially recognized the Taliban government since it came to power in August 2021 following the withdrawal of U.S. troops.