Fragmented Somalia

Israel's decision to recognise Somaliland as an independent state is a calculated political act that threatens to destabilise an already fragile region and undermine the foundational principles of international law. Pakistan's forceful response at the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation's extraordinary session in Jeddah rightly framed it as an act of political aggression that sets a perilous precedent, with ramifications extending far beyond the Horn of Africa.

Addressing the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar left little room for ambiguity. He said Pakistan "strongly condemns the illegal and unlawful recognition by Israel of the Somaliland region of the Federal Republic of Somalia", reiterating unwavering support for Somalia's sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity. His remarks echoed the OIC's joint statement, which rejected the recognition of "parts of states" as a violation of the cardinal principles of international law and the UN Charter.

Somalia's territorial integrity is not a matter of political convenience but a peremptory norm of international law from which no derogation is permitted. No external actor, as Dar rightly noted, has the legal standing or moral authority to alter that reality. Worse still, the episode risks undermining regional and international counterterrorism efforts. Somalia continues to battle the persistent threats, and its citizens have paid a heavy price in blood and resilience. By fuelling fragmentation and contestation, Israel's actions open the door to the creation of fragile political environments that extremist groups are quick to exploit.

This is not just about Somalia or Somaliland. It is about the integrity of the international system itself. If recognition becomes a tool of political expediency rather than a function of law, then no border is truly secure. Pakistan's stance, grounded in principle, is a reminder that in a fractured global order, adherence to international law remains the last meaningful line of defence against chaos.