ISLAMABAD: The foreign office on Thursday reiterated Pakistan’s rejection of Israel’s recognition of Somaliland, a self-declared breakaway region of Somalia, calling the move illegal and warning it could destabilize the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea region.

Somaliland declared independence from Somalia in 1991 but is not recognized by the United Nations or the African Union. Israel’s recent steps to recognize the territory, along with visits by Israeli officials, have drawn criticism from Somalia and several Muslim-majority countries, which say the move violates Somalia’s territorial integrity and risks escalating tensions in a strategically sensitive region bordering major global shipping lanes.

Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar took up the issue during the 22nd Extraordinary Session of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Council of Foreign Ministers held in Jeddah on Jan. 10, which was convened specifically to discuss recent developments related to Somalia.

“In his address, the DPM-FM strongly condemned the illegal and unlawful recognition by Israel of the Somaliland region, as well as subsequent unwarranted and highly provocative visits of Israeli officials to the territory,” the foreign office spokesman said in a weekly briefing.

“He termed such acts as political aggression and a direct assault on Somalia’s internationally recognized borders, setting a perilous precedent and threatening peace and security in the Horn of Africa, the Red Sea region, and beyond.”

The FO spokesman said Dar also addressed the Palestinian issue in his speech, rejecting proposals for the displacement of Palestinians and reaffirmed Pakistan’s long-standing support for a two-state solution.

Dar also welcomed the OIC’s continued backing for Pakistan’s position on Kashmir and urged the bloc to intensify efforts toward what it describes as the right to self-determination of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.

“The Extraordinary OIC Session demonstrated collective determination of OIC member states on various issues of facing Muslim Ummah, particularly Somalia,” the foreign office spokesman said.

“It sent a clear message to the international community on upholding the principles of state sovereignty and territorial integrity.”