Haftar praises professionalism of Pakistani armed forces and their contribution to regional peace
I: Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir met with Lieutenant General Saddam Khalifa Haftar, Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Libyan Arab Armed Forces, at the General Headquarters on Wednesday. Photo: ISPR
Chief of Defense Forces (CDF) and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir on Wednesday discussed issues relating to bilateral defense cooperation with the Deputy Chief of the Libyan Army.
A statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said that CDF Munir held a meeting with the Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Libyan Arab Armed Forces, Lieutenant General Haftar, during which both sides highlighted the importance of strengthening bilateral defense ties and expanding cooperation in military training and security.
Lieutenant General Haftar visited CDF Munir at the General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi and received a guard of honor upon his arrival.
The two sides discussed issues of mutual interest, regional security dynamics, defense cooperation and avenues for enhanced military collaboration.
Read: Pakistan, Libya reach multi-billion dollar arms deal
The ISPR added that CDF Munir highlighted the Pakistan Army’s commitment to promoting peace, stability and constructive engagement with friendly countries.
“The visiting dignitary appreciated the professionalism of the Pakistan Armed Forces and recognized their contributions to regional peace and security,” the statement said.
This was the second meeting between them this year. The two military leaders had previously met in February, when they also discussed regional security dynamics.
During the meeting, the Marshal reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to strengthening bilateral relations with Libya and highlighted a new impetus in defense collaboration between the two countries.
Pakistan and Libya have long-standing diplomatic and military relations. A notable example of this cooperation is a multi-billion dollar conventional arms deal signed in December last year.
The deal, described as one of Pakistan’s largest ever arms sales, was finalized following an earlier meeting between Field Marshal Munir and Lt. Gen. Haftar in Benghazi.
Read also: CDF Munir discusses regional security dynamics with senior Libyan military officials
However, any such agreement with the Libyan National Army is likely to attract international attention given Libya’s prolonged instability since the 2011 NATO-backed uprising that toppled Muammar Gaddafi and plunged the country into years of conflict between rival authorities in the east and west.
Libya has technically remained under a UN arms embargo since February 2011, imposed by United Nations Security Council Resolution 1970 (UNSCR) and then reinforced by subsequent resolutions, including UN Security Council Resolution 1973. The embargo prohibits all states from supplying, selling or transferring arms and related materiel to Libya.
Despite this legal framework, arms flows into Libya have continued unabated over the past decade, fueling proxy conflicts and deepening divisions between rival factions.
