Afghan diplomats defend their act of sitting on the national anthem of Pakistan. The diplomats were criticized for allegedly showing disrespect to the anthem of Pakistan by remaining seated. The incident happened on Tuesday during a Rehmat-ul-Alameen Conference in Peshawar.
In an official statement, the Afghan embassy said that the diplomats did not raise for the national anthem due to ‘music’ in it.
In an official statement, the spokesperson said, “There was no intention to disrespect or demean Pakistan’s national anthem. The Consul General did not stand because of the music in the anthem.”
The consulate also noted that Afghan authorities have imposed a ban on the use of music in their own national anthem. “Had the anthem been presented without music or by children, the Consul General would have stood and placed his hand on his chest,” the spokesperson added.
Dismissing any claims of disrespect, the consulate firmly stated, “The idea of disrespecting Pakistan or its national anthem is out of the question.”
Afghan diplomats and the Consul General attended the convention held in Peshawar on Tuesday.
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The video showed them seated in the front row beside Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Ali Amin Gandapur. At the same time, Gandapur and Pakistani delegates stood up for the national anthem, whereas they did not stand up in respect of the anthem. The video of the Afghan diplomats seated during the national anthem has gone viral on social media.
The video caused a debate on social media as netizens argued that diplomats are bound to respect the national anthem of the country where they are serving.
“The disrespect shown to #Pakistan’s national anthem by the Afghan Consul General in a conference at #Peshawar by not standing when it was played is against the diplomatic norms. The diplomats must show respect for the national anthem of the nation where they are serving,” wrote one user on X.