Officials from the Afghan Consulate in Pakistan allegedly breached the decorum and diplomatic principles during an event in Peshawar on Tuesday, prompting the Foreign Office to summon the Afghan Charge d’Affaires for a formal protest.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur invited Afghan consulate officials to the Rahmat-ul-Alamin Conference in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa capital.

According to footage broadcast by media outlets, the Afghan officials including Consul General Mohibullah Shakir reportedly remained seated during the national anthem.

Some experts suggest that the individual should be declared undesirable and sent back from Pakistan. They have also raised questions about the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government’s decision to invite the Afghan consul general, asking whether they have any regard for Pakistan’s dignity and diplomatic norms.

In reaction to the development, the Foreign Office stated that the Afghan consul general’s actions were contrary to diplomatic protocols. A FO spokesperson added that decisions have been made to lodge protests in both Islamabad and Kabul.

In reaction to the development, the Foreign Office stated that the Afghan consul general’s actions were contrary to diplomatic protocols. A FO spokesperson added that decisions have been made to lodge protests in both Islamabad and Kabul.

“The disrespect of the host country’s national anthem is against diplomatic norms. This act of Acting Consul General of Afghanistan is reprehensible,” the spokesperson said, “we are conveying our strong protest to the Afghan authorities both in Islamabad and Kabul.”

Sources added that the FO summoned the Afghan Charge d’Affaires and lodged a “strong protest” with him, condemning the “disrespect” shown to the national anthem.

In response, the Afghan Consulate spokesperson clarified that the officials remained seated due to the “music played during the anthem,” asserting that there was no question of disrespecting Pakistan’s national anthem. They claimed that officials never had the intention to dishonour the anthem.

The spokesperson further noted that they have also imposed a ban on music during their national anthem. “Had the anthem been played without music, they would have stood and placed their hands on their hearts.”

Sources said that Afghan official Shakir does not possess a valid Afghan passport. It is reported that he and his family returned to Afghanistan in 2015 on a Proof of Registration (PoR) card.

They added that the PoR card has long expired, and as of September 1, all Afghan refugees, including Mohibullah and his family, are residing “illegally” in Pakistan as the interior ministry has not granted any further extensions.

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Pakistan Ulema Council Chairman Allama Tahir Ashrafi regretted that the Afghan officials remained seated during the national anthem.

“This behaviour is not even adopted by enemies. Pakistan should engage with responsible parties.”

Ashrafi said that “Afghanistan is a brotherly nation and that Afghans are highly valued. There can be no compromise on Pakistan’s dignity.”