I was absolutely flabbergasted to watch the Afghan council general in Peshawar and his companion sitting down, and not standing up while our national anthem was being played. All this happened in front of the KP chief minister and his cabinet. Showing such extreme disrespect to the host country is perhaps unheard of in the diplomatic annals.
On being asked for an explanation for such behavior, the Afghan Consulate could only come up with a strange and totally irrational explanation about how the council general did not stand up for the Pakistan national anthem because there was music being played in the background. This explanation has rightly been rejected by Pakistani authorities. But more needs to be done and an apology is due.
Akbar Jan Marwat
Islamabad