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ISLAMABAD: The Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) held its 22nd extraordinary session in Jeddah on Saturday —adopting two resolutions, the first to condemn Israel’s recognition of the so-called “Somaliland” as an independent state and the second on Tel Aviv’s continued aggression against the Palestinian people as well as its plans for annexation and displacement from their land.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar also participated in the session, where he was received by OIC Secretary General Hissein Brahim Taha and Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the bloc, Ambassador Fawad Sheron, upon his arrival.
Israel has recently recognised Somaliland as an independent and sovereign state, with Somaliland’s president, Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi, saying his state will join the Abraham Accords. Later, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar visited Somaliland, condemned by Somalia as an “unauthorised incursion”.
According to a statement issued by the bloc, OIC Secretary General Taha in his speech emphasised that the extraordinary ministerial meeting was being held at a “very delicate and sensitive time” to discuss the “serious developments affecting the sovereignty of the Federal Republic of Somalia”.
Referring to Israel, he described its announcement recognising “Somaliland” region as an independent state as a “dangerous precedent that constituted a flagrant violation of international law and a direct threat to regional security and stability”.
The secretary general explained that the current meeting was a follow-up to an extraordinary session of the executive committee with open membership at the level of permanent representatives, held at the headquarters of the organisation’s general secretariat on Jan 1.
“It clearly reflects the extent of shared concern about these dangerous developments.
It also reflects the collective awareness of member states of the need to adopt a unified, clear, and firm Islamic position that supports the Federal Republic of Somalia, its territorial integrity and sovereignty, based on the principles of the OIC Charter, the provisions of international law, and relevant United Nations resolutions,” he noted.
Palestine situation
In his address, the secretary general also discussed the situation in Palestine, stressing 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 Israeli aggression, a complete withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, the prevention of the displacement of the Palestinian people and the facilitation of the return of displaced persons to their homes.
The meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers was preceded by a preparatory session at the level of senior officials.
New chancery building
Earlier in the day, Mr Dar inaugurated the new chancery building of the Consulate General of Pakistan in Jeddah at a ceremony, state-run APP reported.
The ceremony was attended by Pakistan’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Ahmad Farooq, Saudi dignitaries, Consul General of Pakistan in Jeddah Syed Mustafa Rabbani, prominent members of the Pakistani community, and officials of the Pakistan Consulate in Jeddah.
During the inauguration ceremony, the Pakistani flag was hoisted on the premises of the new chancery building, followed by a tree plantation in the chancery lawn, ribbon-cutting, unveiling of the plaque, and the offering of prayers for Pakistan and Saudi Arabia.
A brief video report highlighting the features of the project was also displayed.
Published in Dawn, January 11th, 2026
