Pakistan condemns Israel’s recognition of Somaliland at OIC meeting

Pakistan has strongly condemned Israel’s illegal recognition of Somaliland as an independent state, calling it a blatant violation of international law and a direct assault on Somalia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Speaking at the extraordinary session of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation Council of Foreign Ministers in Jeddah, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar reaffirmed Pakistan’s unwavering support for the unity, independence, and internationally recognized borders of the Federal Republic of Somalia.

The foreign minister expressed appreciation to Türkiye, Saudi Arabia, and Somalia for convening the emergency meeting to address the serious risks arising from Israel’s actions.

He also acknowledged Saudi Arabia’s continued support for the OIC and its role in advancing unity and cooperation within the Muslim world.

Pakistan categorically rejected Israel’s recognition of the Somaliland region, terming it illegal, unlawful, and politically provocative. The foreign minister stated that Somaliland remains an integral, inseparable, and inalienable part of Somalia, and that no external actor has any legal or moral authority to alter this reality. Any such recognition, he said, is null and void and carries no legal or political effect.

He warned that Israel’s actions set a dangerous precedent and threaten peace and security in the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea region. Pakistan, he noted, had already joined other OIC member states in issuing a joint statement rejecting Israel’s move and highlighting its potential repercussions for regional and global stability.

The foreign minister highlighted Somalia’s recent progress in national reconciliation, constitutional reform, institutional development, and economic legislation, as well as its efforts toward inclusive democratic elections.

He cautioned that actions undermining Somalia’s unity risk reversing these hard-earned gains and weakening international efforts to combat terrorism, particularly the threat posed by Al-Shabab.

Pakistan also aligned itself with the OIC’s call for all states and organizations to refrain from any form of engagement with the Somaliland authorities and to ensure that all interactions fully respect Somalia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Addressing broader regional issues, the foreign minister rejected any proposal linking Somaliland with the forced displacement of Palestinians, calling such ideas a violation of international law.

He reaffirmed Pakistan’s steadfast support for the Palestinian people and reiterated that lasting peace can only be achieved through the establishment of an independent and sovereign Palestinian state based on pre-1967 borders, with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital.

As a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council, Pakistan pledged to continue working with OIC and Arab partners to support Palestinian self-determination and to help implement UN Security Council Resolution 2803 and the Comprehensive Plan to End the Gaza Conflict.

The foreign minister also raised the Jammu and Kashmir dispute, describing it as the core cause of instability in South Asia. He urged renewed international efforts under UN auspices to resolve the dispute in accordance with UN Security Council resolutions and the aspirations of the Kashmiri people, while appreciating the OIC’s consistent support on the issue.

Concluding his remarks, Senator Dar called on the OIC and the international community to speak with one voice against actions undermining Somalia’s sovereignty, reiterating Pakistan’s firm commitment to stand with the government and people of Somalia in their pursuit of peace and progress.