Pakistan along with 21 countries strongly condemn Israeli official’s visit to ‘Somaliland’

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, along with the foreign offices of 21 other countries, on Thursday strongly condemned the visit by Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar to "Somaliland" earlier this week, a joint statement issued by the countries said. 

The Israeli foreign minister arrived in the region designated as "Somaliland" on Tuesday in a high-profile visit. The visit was condemned by Somalia as an "unauthorized incursion," adding that it "reserves the right to take all appropriate diplomatic and legal measures... to safeguard its sovereignty, national unity, and territorial integrity." A special meeting of the African Union Peace and Security Council also condemned "in the strongest terms" the recognition by Israel and called for its "immediate revocation."

The joint statement issued by the foreign offices of the 22 countries said that the countries “express their strong condemnation of the recent illegal visit by the Israeli official to ‘Somaliland’” on Jan. 6.

The statement, recalling the earlier statement issued on Dec. 27, which rejected Israel’s recognition of the state, said that the “visit constitutes a clear violation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Federal Republic of Somalia, and undermines established international norms and the United Nations Charter.”

It said that the countries reaffirm their “unwavering support for the sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity of the Federal Republic of Somalia.”

According to the statement, the countries underline “that encouraging secessionist agendas” was “unacceptable and risk exacerbating tensions in an already fragile region.”

The statement emphasized that “respect for international law, non-interference in internal affairs of sovereign states, and adherence to diplomatic norms are essential for regional and international stability.”

It commended the Somalian government’s “commitment to peaceful international engagement, constructive diplomacy and adherence to international law,” expressing its commitment to continuing to support the country's diplomatic and legal measures to safeguard its “sovereignty, territorial integrity and stability in line with international law.”

The countries stressed that Israel “should fully respect Somalia's sovereignty, national unity and territorial integrity and honor its obligations in compliance with international law,” demanding an "immediate revocation of the recognition issued by Israel."