Reuters, citing four Pakistani officials, reported that the country has reached an agreement to sell military equipment worth over $4 billion to Libya’s National Army (LNA).
Sources said the agreement was finalized following a meeting between Pakistan Army Chief Asim Munir and Libya’s National Army (LNA) Deputy Commander Saddam Khalifa Haftar in Benghazi.
Libya has experienced instability since the overthrow of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011 and is currently divided between two entities: the UN-recognized Government of National Accord (GNA) and the LNA. The former controls much of western Libya, while the latter holds eastern and southern regions, including key oil fields.
A copy of the contract seen by Reuters shows the deal includes the purchase of 16 JF-17 fighter jets and 12 Super Mushak trainer aircraft.
One Pakistani official said the agreement also covers the sale of ground, naval, and aerial weapons systems and is expected to be implemented over two and a half years.
Two officials valued the deal at over $4 billion, while two others cited $4.6 billion.
Libya’s official LNA media reported on Sunday that the army had entered into a defense cooperation pact with Pakistan, encompassing arms purchases, joint training, and military production, without providing further details.
Libya has been under United Nations arms embargoes since 2011, and any transfer of weapons and military equipment requires UN approval.
UN experts said in their December report that Libya’s arms embargoes have largely been “ineffective,” noting that some countries provide military support to forces in both eastern and western Libya.
It remains unclear whether Pakistan or Libya sought exemptions from the UN sanctions. Three Pakistani officials told Reuters that the agreement does not violate the UN arms embargo.
