Taliban Challenges Diplomacy

In an event that has drawn international attention, a Taliban representative at an international conference in Tehran refused to show respect for the national anthem of the Islamic Republic of Iran. This action was met with a strong reaction from Hassan Kazemi Qomi, the special representative of Iran’s president for Afghanistan affairs.

Azizurrahman Mansoor, the deputy minister for mysticism and religious sites affairs at the Taliban’s Ministry of Guidance, Hajj, and Endowments, did not stand up during the playing of Iran’s national anthem at the 38th “International Islamic Unity Conference” in Tehran. This behavior was similar to the recent action of the Taliban’s consul general in Peshawar, Pakistan, who refused to respect that country’s national anthem.

Kazemi Qomi called this behavior disrespectful to diplomatic principles, stating, “Disrespecting diplomatic principles under the pretext of prohibiting music based on Sharia has no meaning or instance.” He added that if the prohibition of music had a religious basis, it should also include listening to it.

These events demonstrate that the Taliban group faces serious challenges in the diplomatic arena, and their behaviors could significantly impact Afghanistan’s international relations.

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