Pakistani Foreign Office on behalf of Afghan Consul General Muhibullah Shakir Pakistan K National anthems Rejecting Afghanistan’s explanation on Thursday on the issue of ‘insult’, he said that ‘Pakistan has the authority to take any step on the diplomatic front.’
In a weekly briefing on Thursday, Foreign Office Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said to a question from Independent Urdu that Pakistan has rejected the Afghan Consul General’s explanation of not standing in respect because of the music in the national anthem.
The spokesman said: ‘Desecration of the national anthem of the host country is a breach of diplomatic etiquette. We have recorded our protest in full.’
The spokesman of the Foreign Office added that ‘we are consulting in this regard. Pakistan has the right to take any step on the diplomatic front, we reject the response issued by Afghanistan.
Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said that Afghan Consul General Mohibullah Shakir has a Pakistani visa, adding that reports of him not having a visa and passport are “fabricated and based on speculation.”
On September 17, a video surfaced on social media from the Rahmat-ul-Lameen Conference ceremony in Peshawar, in which Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Ali Amin Gandapur, other members of the provincial cabinet, and Afghan Consul General Mohibullah Shakir also participated. During the national anthem in the ceremony, everyone stood while paying respect to the Pakistani national anthem, but the Afghan Consul General along with his colleague remained seated in their seats.
After criticism in this regard, Peshawar Afghan Consulate spokesperson Shahidullah Zaheer told Independent Urdu that there was no meaning in disrespecting the national anthem of Pakistan, but the Consul General did not stand up because of the music in the anthem.
He said that the anthem of Afghanistan has been banned because of the music. If children sang the national anthem, diplomats could stand respectfully.’
Awaiting details from the US on the issue of Asif Merchant
Speaking on the issue of Pakistani Asif Merchant arrested in America, the spokesperson said that Pakistan has requested details from the US authorities in this regard, which is awaited while Pakistan has also requested consular access to Asif Merchant. No progress has been made.
In a statement issued by the US Department of Justice on September 11, Asif Raza Merchant, who has alleged ties to Iran, was indicted in the US for conspiracy to kill an American official.
The spokesperson told Independent Urdu about the resignation of Pakistan’s Special Representative for Afghanistan, Asif Durrani, that “Such high-level appointments are made by the government. The government has decided to terminate the contract of Asif Durrani. A substitute has not been brought.’
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On the other hand, Pakistan condemned the pager and walkie-talkie explosions in Lebanon and said that Islamabad condemns all forms of terrorism. “Our sympathies are with the people of Lebanon, the injured and their families.”
The spokesman also condemned the Israeli airstrikes on the Gaza school.
Spokesperson of the Foreign Office said on the increasing incidents of terrorism in Pakistan, “Afghanistan’s territory is continuously being used against Pakistan. Pakistan has provided details of the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) to Afghanistan, which is in possession of Afghanistan.” are Afghanistan should take action against TTP in this regard and should not use its territory against anyone.
Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said with reference to a recent report by a Chinese agency regarding the transfer of military bases in Pakistan to China, “We do not have such information.” Pakistan will not hand over its military bases to any country. On the economic front, the relationship between Pakistan and China is getting stronger with time and the promotion of Chinese companies in Pakistan’s business sector is a reflection of this.
Earlier, the spokesperson of the Foreign Office said during the briefing that the elections held by India in Kashmir under its administration have no status in the eyes of the world and there is no alternative to the right of the Kashmiri people to vote.
The spokesperson said: ‘The Prime Minister will leave for the United Nations General Assembly meeting from September 23. He will meet with several world leaders on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly meeting. He will also have meetings with the Secretary General of the United Nations and the President of the General Assembly.
He further informed that the Deputy Prime Minister of Russia is on an official visit to Pakistan. Yesterday, Russian Deputy Prime Minister and Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar met, during which they discussed further promotion of trade, industry, education and culture between the two countries.
Mumtaz Zahra Baloch further said that US Under Secretary John Bass visited Pakistan last week, during which he met various leaders and discussed issues of terrorism and security.
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2024-09-20 13:11:45
