TEHRAN: Iran on Friday summoned the acting head of Afghanistan's embassy after saying a visiting Afghan official disrespected the country's national anthem by failing to stand, days after a similar incident in Pakistan.
Following the incident at a conference in Tehran on Islamic unity, the Afghan delegate apologised but said it was because the Taliban ban music in public.
A statement from Iran's Foreign Ministry said there had been a “strong protest” following his “unconventional and unacceptable action.”
He accused the Kabul representative at the Islamic Unity Conference of “disrespecting the national anthem of the Islamic Republic.”
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs “condemned this action which contradicts diplomatic practices.”
Afghanistan's representative remained seated when Iran's national anthem was played, mirroring a similar event involving Afghan officials in Pakistan.
“In addition to the obvious need for the guest to respect the symbols of the host country, paying homage to the national anthem of countries is an internationally recognized behavior,” Iran's statement added.
Islamabad on Tuesday summoned the Afghan charge d'affaires over “disrespect to 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 an Afghan consulate spokesman as saying officials did not stand up because of the music and that there was no intention to be disrespectful.
“As the anthem had music, the consul general and one official did not stand up. We have banned our national anthem because of the music,” the Afghan spokesman said.
On Friday, the Afghan official who was in Tehran for the conference posted a video apology, saying he had no intention of disrespecting her but that it was his custom to sit during the anthems.
Iran shares a 900-kilometer (550-mile) border with Afghanistan but has not officially recognized the Taliban government since it came to power in August 2021 after U.S. forces were forced to withdraw.
