ISLAMABAD: Afghan Consul General Mohibullah Shakir sparked controversy on Tuesday at the Rehmat-ul-Alameen Conference in Peshawar by remaining seated during Pakistan’s national anthem. His actions have been widely condemned for breaching diplomatic protocol and showing disrespect to the host country.
The conference, hosted by Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, saw Afghan consular officials in attendance. However, when Pakistan’s national anthem played, Shakir and his colleague stayed seated, drawing criticism from political experts who called it a violation of diplomatic conduct.
Many experts are now calling for Shakir to be declared persona non grata and expelled from Pakistan. They argue that this incident damages Pakistan-Afghanistan relations, which are already strained due to recent tensions, including accusations that Afghanistan harbors militants responsible for attacks in Pakistan.
Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has officially protested the incident, summoning the Afghan Chargé d’Affaires to express their concerns.
A spokesperson for the Afghan Consulate later defended Shakir, stating that he didn’t stand due to the music in the anthem, as Afghan authorities have banned music in their own national anthem.
Diplomatic Tensions Rising
This incident comes amid already tense relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan, particularly after the return of the Taliban government in Kabul. Pakistan has accused Afghanistan of allowing terrorist groups like the TTP to operate freely, further complicating diplomatic relations.
In response to the incident, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government spokesperson Barrister Muhammad Ali Saif stated that the Afghan diplomats would issue their explanation soon, asking for patience until an official response is given.