Pakistan’s Foreign Office (FO) has criticized an Afghan official for showing disrespect during the national anthem at a recent Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government event. FO Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said, “Disrespecting the host country’s national anthem is against diplomatic norms. This action by the acting consul general of Afghanistan is unacceptable.”
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— Government of KP (@GovernmentKP) September 17, 2024
The incident happened during a conference held to honor the Holy Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) on Eid-i-Miladun Nabi. Many elected officials, government workers, and scholars attended the event. Reports say that Afghan officials stayed seated during the national anthem, which is considered disrespectful in many countries.
In response, the Foreign Office stated it was sending a “strong protest” to Afghan authorities in Islamabad and Kabul. This incident adds to existing tensions, as a clash last week between Pakistani security forces and the Afghan Taliban near Kurram district resulted in the deaths of eight Afghan soldiers, including two commanders, and injured at least 16 others. This has further strained relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan.
