WEB DESK: Pakistan, along with the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and several Muslim-majority countries, has strongly criticised Israel’s decision to recognise Somaliland, warning that the move endangers regional and international peace.
In a joint declaration issued on Sunday, the OIC supported by Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, Iran, Egypt, Qatar and others described Israel’s action as a dangerous and unprecedented step with far-reaching consequences for stability in the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea region. The statement accused Israel of showing “open disregard” for international law and the United Nations Charter.
Israel recently became the first state to formally acknowledge the self-declared Republic of Somaliland as an independent country, despite Somaliland being internationally recognised as part of Somalia.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu welcomed the decision, announcing plans to deepen cooperation with Somaliland in sectors such as agriculture, healthcare, technology and trade. He congratulated Somaliland’s president, Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi, praised his leadership, and extended an invitation for an official visit to Israel. Netanyahu said the move aligns with the Abraham Accords initiated under former US president Donald Trump.
In response, President Abdullahi stated that Somaliland intends to join the Abraham Accords, describing the development as a contribution to regional and global peace.
The joint OIC statement, however, firmly rejected Israel’s recognition, calling it a serious breach of international norms that protect state sovereignty and territorial integrity. It reaffirmed full support for Somalia’s unity and sovereignty, and condemned any action that could weaken the country’s territorial boundaries.
The statement warned that recognising breakaway regions sets a dangerous precedent, undermines the international legal order, and poses a threat to global peace and security. It also dismissed any attempts to associate the recognition with proposals to forcibly displace Palestinians, stressing that such ideas are categorically rejected.
Separately, Pakistan’s Foreign Office had already condemned Israel’s announcement a day earlier, reiterating that Somaliland remains an integral part of the Federal Republic of Somalia and rejecting any recognition of the region’s claimed independence.
