IRIA News

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Pakistan has reached a defense deal worth more than $4 billion to sell military equipment to Libya’s eastern-based Libyan National Army, according to multiple Pakistani officials, in what is being described as one of the largest weapons export agreements in Pakistan’s history.

The agreement was finalized after a high-level meeting last week in Benghazi between Pakistan’s military chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, and Khalifa Haftar, the deputy commander-in-chief of the LNA.

The deal immediately drew international attention because Libya remains under a United Nations arms embargo imposed in 2011, following the NATO-backed uprising that toppled longtime ruler Muammar Gaddafi and plunged the country into prolonged political fragmentation and intermittent conflict. Any transfer of weapons to Libya formally requires UN approval, placing the Pakistan-LNA agreement under likely diplomatic and legal scrutiny.

Pakistani officials familiar with the negotiations stated that the agreement encompasses military equipment for land, sea, and air forces and will be implemented over approximately two and a half years. Two officials estimated the value at more than $4 billion, while two others placed the total closer to $4.6 billion.

Aircraft Sales

A copy of the agreement seen before finalization listed the purchase of 16 JF-17 fighter jets and 12 Super Mushak trainer aircraft. The JF-17 is a multi-role combat aircraft jointly developed by Pakistan and China, which Islamabad has increasingly marketed as a cost-effective alternative to Western fighter jets. The Super Mushak is used primarily for basic pilot training and has been exported to several countries.

One Pakistani official confirmed that the aircraft listed in the document were part of the deal, though exact quantities could still change. Another official said the agreement encompasses a broader package of systems beyond aviation, suggesting a comprehensive effort to support the LNA’s military capabilities across multiple domains.

Neither Libya’s eastern nor western forces currently operates a substantial or modern air force, meaning the introduction of combat aircraft could significantly alter the balance of power within the country if deliveries proceed as outlined.

LNA Confirms Strategic Cooperation

The LNA’s official media channel reported on Sunday that it had entered into a defense cooperation agreement with Pakistan that includes weapons sales, joint military training, and defense manufacturing. While the announcement did not provide technical details, it framed the deal as a turning point in relations between the two sides.

“We announce the launch of a new phase of strategic military cooperation with Pakistan,” Saddam Haftar said in remarks broadcast by Al-Hadath television. Authorities in Benghazi did not immediately respond to requests for further clarification.

The agreement deepens Pakistan’s engagement with Libya’s eastern authorities at a time when the country remains divided between rival centers of power.

The UN-recognized Government of National Unity, led by Prime Minister Abdulhamid Dbeibah, controls much of western Libya from Tripoli. Haftar’s LNA controls the east and much of the south, including key oilfields, and does not recognize the authority of the western government.

Arms Embargo Under Renewed Focus

Libya has been subject to a UN arms embargo since 2011, but the restrictions have long been criticized as ineffective. In a December 2024 report, a UN panel of experts described the embargo as largely unenforced, noting that foreign states had become increasingly open about providing military training and assistance to forces on both sides of Libya’s internal divide.

It remains unclear whether Pakistan or the LNA sought exemptions or approvals from the United Nations for the deal. Pakistani officials said the agreement did not violate UN rules. One official argued that Pakistan was not the only country engaging militarily with Libyan actors.

The second official described that there are no international sanctions on Khalifa Haftar himself. Another official pointed to what he described as improving relations between Benghazi authorities and Western governments, citing increased fuel exports from eastern Libya.

Despite those claims, any major arms transfer to Libyan factions is likely to face scrutiny given the country’s unresolved conflict and history of foreign interference.

Pakistan’s Push to Expand Defense Exports

The Libya agreement fits into a broader Pakistani strategy aimed at expanding defense exports as part of an effort to boost foreign revenue and showcase domestic industrial capacity. Pakistan’s defense sector spans aircraft production and overhaul, armored vehicles, munitions, and naval construction, built on decades of operational experience, particularly in counterinsurgency.

Islamabad has also highlighted its military performance during clashes with India earlier this year as evidence of its capabilities.

“Our recent war with India demonstrated our advanced capabilities to the world,” Field Marshal Munir said in remarks broadcast by Al-Hadath television during his visit to Libya.

Pakistan promotes the JF-17 as a flexible, lower-cost platform that can be paired with training, maintenance, and long-term support without reliance on Western supply chains. This pitch has gained traction among countries seeking to diversify military partnerships amid geopolitical uncertainty.

In parallel, Pakistan has been deepening security ties with Gulf partners. It signed a Strategic Mutual Defense Agreement with Saudi Arabia in September 2025 and has held senior-level defense talks with Qatar. Islamabad maintains close relations with both Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, the latter historically one of Haftar’s key regional backers.

Regional Implications and Shifting Alliances

The Libya deal expands Pakistan’s footprint in North Africa, a region where regional and international powers continue to compete for influence over fragmented security institutions and an oil-backed economy. Libya has long served as a theatre for proxy competition involving Gulf states, Turkiye, Russia, and others, though alliance patterns have blurred in recent years.

Haftar’s failed 2019 offensive to seize Tripoli, backed at the time by the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Russia, was halted after Turkiye intervened in support of the western government, deploying drones and military advisers. Since then, Turkey has entrenched its presence in western Libya, while also cautiously engaging with Haftar’s camp through diplomatic channels.

Pakistan’s decision to engage directly with the LNA could complicate some of its regional relationships. While Gulf partners may not oppose the move, it could create friction with Turkiye, which maintains close defense ties with Pakistan and has consistently supported the Tripoli-based government.

At the same time, Islamabad’s improving relations with Washington since President Donald Trump’s return to the White House add another layer of diplomatic complexity, particularly given U.S. concerns over arms proliferation and regional stability.

For Pakistan, the Libya deal represents both an economic opportunity and a strategic signal. For Libya, it underscores how external actors continue to shape the country’s fractured security landscape, more than a decade after the fall of Gaddafi and despite repeated international efforts to curb the flow of weapons into the conflict.