A spokesperson for Pakistan's Foreign Ministry rejected the acting Afghan Consul General’s explanation for not standing during the Pakistani national anthem at an event in Peshawar, terming the action a violation of diplomatic norms.
Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said that the behaviour of this Taliban diplomat is reprehensible and has hurt the sentiments of the people of Pakistan.
Pakistan's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch announced during her weekly press conference in Islamabad on Thursday, that Pakistan has conveyed its strong protest to the Taliban's officials in Kabul.
She said decisions would be taken after due internal deliberations and conclusion of talks with the Taliban government. She said that Pakistan reserves the right to take action in accordance with diplomatic norms and practices.
Earlier, the Taliban's consul general in Peshawar had announced that he did not stand up when the national anthem was played because of the presence of music, stressing that there was "no intention to disrespect or humiliate the national anthem of Pakistan”.
Mohibullah Shakir, the Taliban's consul general in Peshawar, attended a conference on Tuesday at the invitation of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur. While other officials and diplomats stood up as the Pakistani national anthem was played, he and his companion were the only ones who did not get up.
This action of the Taliban consul general has provoked the anger of Islamabad and the Pakistani media has extensively covered the issue over the past two days. Some Pakistani media outlets have described the behaviour of the Taliban diplomat as disrespectful to Pakistan.
