Iranian Flag Upside Down During Pakistani Official's Reluctant Meeting with Iranian Counterpart (DISPUTED)
Day Life published an image (courtesy of Associated Press AP) of meeting between Pakistani Interior Minister Rehman Malik and his Iranian counterpart Mostafa Mohammad Najjar, in which, contrary to diplomatic norms, there was no sign of any Iranian flag behind the Iranian Official. Among the 5 Pakistani flags there was only a small Iranian flag posted "upside down" next to the Iranian Minister. According to Tabnak, Iran's official news agencies reported no images from Mr. Najjar's trip to Pakistan.
The urgent meeting was held in Islamabad, Pakistan on Friday, Oct. 23, 2009 (apparently despite reluctance of the Pakistani government) to discuss Iran's desire to battle a Sunni rebel group blamed for a recent suicide bombing that killed top Iranian Revolutionary Guard commanders.
In another reference to this trip on Khabar online, an Op Ed blogger complained about the "ugly" and "untidy" appearance of the Iranian Minister, Mr. Najjar, a former member of Iranian Security and Military establishment. The writer indicates: "Pakistanis are not well known in the world of fashion, but Mr. Minister made them look very bright."
NEW DEVELOPMENTS AS OF OCTOBER 28, 2009:
Iranian Interior Ministry has published an image from the meeting, and claims that the images published by Associated Press are doctored, and there was no upside down flag.
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