• The Libyan National Army agreed a major arms and training deal with Pakistan

• The contract includes fighter jets, training aircraft, and cooperation programs

• The deal strengthens Haftar’s forces and boosts Pakistan’s defense exports

Libya’s eastern-based Libyan National Army (LNA), led by Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar, has signed last week a strategic military partnership with Pakistan in Benghazi. According to multiple converging sources, the agreement is valued at between $4 billion and $4.6 billion. It covers the supply of land, naval, and air equipment, as well as training programs and industrial cooperation, making it one of the largest arms deals ever secured by Islamabad.

The agreement includes the delivery of 16 JF-17 Thunder multirole fighter jets, jointly developed by Pakistan and China, along with 12 Super Mushshak training aircraft, which meet industrial standards for onboarding new client air forces. Implementation is expected to span two and a half years and may involve the deployment of Pakistani personnel to train pilots and oversee equipment installation.

The JF-17 is marketed as a cost-effective and competitive multirole fighter, offering a comprehensive solution outside Western supply chains. These acquisitions significantly enhance the LNA’s air capabilities, which until now relied mainly on Russian air defense systems and Chinese drones for surveillance and intelligence. The contract was signed following a meeting between Pakistan’s army chief, Asim Munir, and Saddam Khalifa Haftar, deputy commander-in-chief of the LNA.

The LNA controls eastern and southern Libya, including most of the country’s oil fields, while the Government of National Unity, led by Abdulhamid Dbeibah, administers the west. In this divided political and security landscape, the agreement strengthens Haftar’s military position, shifts the balance of power, and reinforces his ability to secure strategic areas in the east and south.

For Pakistan, the deal represents a major milestone in its defense export strategy. Islamabad is promoting an integrated defense industry spanning aerospace, armored vehicles, ammunition, and naval construction, allowing it to offer comprehensive packages that combine equipment, training, and maintenance to clients facing political or financial constraints.

Beyond the commercial dimension, the agreement underscores Pakistan’s strategic interest in North Africa and its ambition to expand its footprint in a country that plays a key role in oil production and control of military infrastructure. It also highlights the growing influence of alternative defense suppliers in high-value strategic arms transactions.

Olivier de Souza