ISLAMABAD: The Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation held its 22nd extraordinary session in Jeddah on Saturday, adopting two resolutions condemning Israel’s recognition of the Somaliland region as an independent state and addressing Israel’s continued actions against the Palestinian people.
Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar participated in the meeting. He was received on arrival by OIC Secretary General Hissein Brahim Taha and Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the OIC, Ambassador Fawad Sheron.
Addressing the session Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister strongly condemned Israel’s illegal and unlawful recognition of the Somaliland region, as well as the subsequent unwarranted and highly provocative visit of its official to Somaliland.
He described these actions as an act of political aggression and a direct assault on Somalia’s internationally recognized borders, warning that such steps set a dangerous precedent and pose a serious threat to peace and security in the Horn of Africa, the Red Sea region, and beyond.
Senator Ishaq Dar also rejected any proposal aimed at the dislocation of the Palestinian people and reaffirmed Pakistan’s principled commitment to an independent, contiguous, and sovereign State of Palestine, based on pre-1967 borders, with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital.
Appreciating the OIC’s principled stance and consistent support for the resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute, he urged the organization to intensify its efforts towards the realization of the right to self-determination of the Kashmiri people.
On the sidelines of the extraordinary session, the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister held meetings with his counterparts from several OIC Member States, as well as with the Secretary-General of the OIC.
The convening of the extraordinary session was described as a strong demonstration of the collective resolve of OIC Member States, conveying a clear message to the international community on the urgent need to uphold the principles of state sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The participation of the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister in the session reaffirmed Pakistan’s steadfast support for the sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity of Somalia.
'Threat to regional peace'
According to an OIC statement, the council adopted a resolution rejecting Israel’s recent announcement recognizing the Somaliland region as an independent and sovereign state, calling it a violation of international law and a threat to regional peace and stability. The resolution reaffirmed the OIC’s support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Federal Republic of Somalia.
In his address, Secretary General Taha said the extraordinary session was convened at a “very delicate and sensitive time” to discuss developments affecting Somalia’s sovereignty. He said the meeting reflected the shared concern of member states and the need for a unified Islamic position in line with the OIC Charter, international law, and relevant United Nations resolutions.
The secretary general said the session followed an earlier extraordinary meeting of the OIC executive committee held on Jan. 1 at the organization’s headquarters, underscoring the urgency of the issue.
The council also adopted a second resolution on the situation in Palestine. Taha stressed the need to compel Israel, the occupying power, to move to the second phase of the ceasefire agreement. He called for a comprehensive and permanent cessation of hostilities, a complete withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, prevention of the displacement of Palestinians, and facilitation of the return of displaced persons to their homes.
The meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers was preceded by a preparatory session among senior officials.
Earlier in the day, Dar inaugurated the new chancery building of the Consulate General of Pakistan in Jeddah.
