Iran summoned the acting head of Afghanistan’s embassy on Friday, accusing a visiting Afghan official of disrespecting Iran’s national anthem by not standing during a conference in Tehran on Islamic unity. This incident comes just days after a similar occurrence in Pakistan, where Afghan officials did not stand during Pakistan’s national anthem at an event in Peshawar.
The Afghan delegate in Tehran apologized, explaining that the Taliban’s ban on public music was the reason for not standing. Iran’s foreign ministry issued a “strong protest,” labeling the action as “unconventional and unacceptable,” and asserted that respecting national anthems is an internationally recognized diplomatic norm. Iran condemned the incident as a breach of diplomatic custom and expected guests to respect host country symbols.
A similar situation occurred in Pakistan earlier in the week. Afghan officials did not stand during the Pakistani national anthem, also citing the ban on music as the reason. Pakistani officials summoned the Afghan chargé d’affaires to express their disapproval. The Afghan consulate in Pakistan explained that their officials meant no disrespect and adhered to their custom of not standing due to the presence of music.
In response to the incident in Tehran, the Afghan official posted a video apology, reiterating that there was no intention of disrespect and that their actions were in line with their customary practices.
While Iran and Afghanistan share a 900km (550-mile) border, Iran has not officially recognized the Taliban government since it came to power in August 2021. The diplomatic tensions underscore the complexities in regional relations and cultural differences.
