CDF Munir discusses the regional security dynamics with the Libyan Deputy Military Commander

The Chief of Defense Staff (CDF) and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir discussed regional security dynamics in a meeting with senior Libyan military officials on Monday, according to the military’s media wing.

A press release from the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said CDF Munir met with Libyan Arab Armed Forces Commander-in-Chief Field Marshal Khalifa Abu-al-Qasim Haftar and Deputy Commander-in-Chief Lieutenant General Saddam Khalifa Haftar at the headquarters today.

“Both sides exchanged views on issues of mutual interest, with particular focus on security dynamics in the respective regions and professional cooperation. The discussion underlined the importance of continued engagement and cooperation between the armed forces of Pakistan and Libya,” the statement said.

The ISPR said CDF Munir welcomed the two and reaffirmed the country’s commitment to strengthening bilateral relations with Libya and underlined Pakistan’s support for peace, stability and institutional development in Libya.

“The meeting was held in a cordial and constructive atmosphere reflecting the longstanding friendly relations between Pakistan and Libya,” the ISPR said.

Pakistan and Libya have strong diplomatic and military ties, having inked a multi-billion dollar conventional arms deal last month.

The deal, described as one of Pakistan’s biggest ever arms sales, was concluded after a prior meeting between CDF Munir and the deputy commander in Benghazi.

A copy of the agreement seen by Reuters before its completion listed the purchase of 16 JF-17 Thunder fighter jets, jointly developed by Pakistan and China, and 12 Super Mushak trainer aircraft used for basic pilot training.

A Pakistani official confirmed the list was accurate, while another said all items listed were part of the deal, although the exact numbers could not be independently verified. Officials cited by Reuters said the agreement covered equipment for land, naval and air forces and would be implemented over a period of about two and a half years.

Libya has technically been under a UN arms embargo since February 2011, imposed through UN Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1970 and later reinforced by subsequent resolutions, including UNSCR 1973. The embargo prohibits all states from supplying, selling or transferring arms and related materiel to Libya.

Despite this legal framework, arms flows to Libya have remained largely unabated over the past decade, fueling proxy conflicts and deepening divisions between rival factions.

Sources had told Express Pakinomist that Pakistani authorities did not expect the UN embargo to pose a practical obstacle to reported defense cooperation with Libya, arguing that the embargo had long since ceased to function as an effective enforcement mechanism.

According to the sources, the arms embargo existed more as a formal or “paper” restriction rather than a meaningful barrier on the ground. They pointed to persistent violations by several regional and international actors over the years, which had effectively eroded the credibility of the embargo.

The sources noted that Libya’s fragmented government structure and deep political divisions in the UN Security Council had significantly undermined enforcement.