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The Prime Minister of Libya, Dr. Osama Saad Hamad calls on Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Islamabad on February 3, 2026. Photo: PTV/X
ISLAMABAD:
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to promoting friendly relations with Libya and stressed the importance of continued engagement and dialogue.
A high-level Libyan delegation called on him at PM House. The delegation included Dr. Osama Saad Hamad, Prime Minister of the Libyan Government, Field Marshal Khalifa Abu-al-Qasim Haftar, Commander-in-Chief of the Libyan Arab Armed Forces and Lieutenant General Saddam Khalifa Haftar, Deputy Commander of the Libyan Arab Armed Forces.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar and Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, NI (M), HJ, COAS & CDF, were also present during the meeting, PM Office Media Wing said in a press release.
During the discussions, both sides exchanged views on the importance of strengthening bilateral relations. The meeting reflected the common desire to strengthen cooperation in areas of common interest and to promote peace, stability and development on a regional and international level.
The Libyan leadership appreciated Pakistan’s role and expressed interest in expanding cooperation between the two countries.
The meeting ended with an understanding to maintain close contact and explore opportunities for future cooperation.
Embassy
Pakistan is in talks to open a consulate in the eastern Libyan city of Benghazi, three sources familiar with the matter said, a move that could give eastern authorities a diplomatic boost in their rivalry with Libya’s west.
Libya descended into turmoil after a 2011 NATO-backed uprising toppled Muammar Gaddafi and has been divided into eastern and western authorities since a 2014 civil war.
The UN-recognized government in Tripoli controls the west, while the head of the Libyan National Army, Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar’s forces based in Benghazi, hold the east and south, including major oil fields.
Islamabad would join a small group of countries with a diplomatic presence in Benghazi. Haftar discussed the move with officials during an ongoing visit to Pakistan, the sources said.
Pakistan’s prime minister’s office and foreign ministry did not respond to requests for comment.
The LNA’s official media site said Haftar and his son Saddam met senior officials of the Pakistani army “within the framework of strengthening bilateral relations and opening wider horizons for coordination in areas of common interest”.
It did not provide further details and Reuters could not immediately reach eastern Libyan authorities for comment.
Pakistan’s air force said in a statement that Saddam Khalifa Haftar met air chief Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu to discuss expanded defense cooperation, including joint training, with Islamabad reaffirming its support for the “capability development” of the Libyan air force.
Chief of Army Staff and Defense Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir visited Benghazi in December, where he signed a multibillion-dollar defense deal with the LNA, as previously reported by Reuters.
All three sources said the decision to open a consulate in Benghazi was linked to the $4 billion defense deal.
(With additional input from Reuters)
