KARACHI: Iran summoned the acting head of Afghanistan`s embassy on Friday after saying a visiting Afghan official disrespected the country`s national anthem by not standing, days after a similar incident in Pakistan.

Standing up during the national anthem is a widely practiced gesture of respect and patriotism in many countries. It is often seen as a way to honour the nation and its values.

Earlier this week, Pakistan condemned the `reprehensible disrespect` shown for the country`s national anthem by an Afghan diplomat, who decided to remain seated when the anthem was played at a Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government event on Tuesday, sparking uproar on socialand mainstream media.

However, the Afghan consulate had downplayed the incident, attributing the envoy`s decision to remain seated to the presence of `music in the anthem`.

`Imagine a religious scholar standing up for music,` the Afghan consulate general`s spokesman, Shahidullah, told Dawn earlier this week, referring to the interim Afghan government`s policy banning their own anthem due to its musical composition.

Even KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Khan Gandapur had acknowledged the envoy`s explanation.

`This is their policy, and due to music, they [the interim Afghan government] have imposed a ban on their own national anthem,` he had said.

Following the incident at a conference in Tehran on Islamic unity, the Afghan delegate also apologised, and said he didn`t stand because music was banned in public by the Taliban.

An Iranian foreignministry statement said a `strong protest` had been lodged after the Afghan official`s `unconventional and unacceptable action`.

It accused Kabul`s representative to the Islamic Unity Conference of `disrespecting the national anthem of the Islamic Republic`.

The foreign ministry `condemned this action, which went against diplomatic custom`.

Afghanistan`s representative remained seated when Iran`s national anthem was played.

`Apart from the obvious necessity of the guest respecting the symbols of the host country, paying respect to the national anthem of countries is internationally recognised behaviour,` Iran`s statement added.

On Friday, the Afghan official in Tehran for the conference posted a video apology, saying he meant no disrespect but claimed sitting during anthems is their custom.

With input from AFP