DPM Dar condemns Israel’s recognition of ‘Somaliland’, reaffirms Pakistan’s support for Somalia

JEDDAH: Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar on Sunday reaffirmed Pakistan’s unwavering support for the sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity of the Federal Republic of Somalia, strongly condemning Israel’s illegal and unlawful recognition of the Somaliland region.

Addressing the Extraordinary Session of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers in Jeddah, Dar termed Israel’s move a direct assault on Somalia’s internationally recognised borders and a flagrant violation of international law. He also condemned the subsequent and highly provocative visit of the Israeli foreign minister to Somaliland.

He said Pakistan had already voiced firm support for Somalia and condemned Israel’s actions during a briefing at the United Nations Security Council, stressing that state sovereignty and territorial integrity constitute peremptory norms of international law from which no deviation is permitted.

The deputy prime minister said Somalia’s internationally recognised borders were sacrosanct and inviolable, adding that Somaliland remained an integral, inseparable and inalienable part of Somalia. He maintained that no external actor had any legal standing or moral authority to alter this reality, declaring any such recognition null and void with no political or legal effect.

Dar warned that recognising an integral part of a sovereign state was not a diplomatic act but an act of political aggression, setting a dangerous precedent that threatened peace and security in the Horn of Africa, the Red Sea region and beyond.

He said Pakistan had joined other OIC member states in unequivocally rejecting Israel’s move through a joint statement, which termed the recognition of “parts of states” a violation of international law and the UN Charter, noting its potential serious repercussions for regional and international security.

The foreign minister said developments in the Horn of Africa were particularly alarming at a time when Somalia was making tangible progress in national reconciliation, constitutional reform, institutional strengthening and democratic processes, including economic legislation and steps towards inclusive elections.

He said these gains reflected a Somali-owned and Somali-led path towards stability and must not be undermined by actions that risk fragmenting the country. Dar also acknowledged the sacrifices of the Somali people and security forces in combating Al-Shabab, warning that Israel’s actions could weaken counterterrorism efforts and create environments vulnerable to extremist exploitation.

Reiterating Pakistan’s position, Dar said Islamabad fully aligned with the OIC’s call for all states to refrain from any form of engagement with Somaliland authorities that did not respect Somalia’s sovereignty and unity. He also categorically rejected any proposal linking Somaliland with plans for the forced displacement of Palestinians.

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He reaffirmed Pakistan’s steadfast support for the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination, stressing that lasting peace lay in the establishment of an independent 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, Dar said Pakistan would continue working with OIC and Arab partners to mobilise global support for Palestinian rights, while also highlighting the unresolved Jammu and Kashmir dispute as a major source of conflict in South Asia and calling for renewed efforts under UN auspices for its just resolution.

He urged the OIC and the international community to speak with one voice in firmly rejecting all actions that undermine Somalia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.