CDF Munir analyzes regional security dynamics with Libyan deputy military chief

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

A press release from Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said CDF Munir met with Commander-in-Chief of the Libyan Arab Armed Forces 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 matters of mutual interest, with special focus on security dynamics in respective regions and professional cooperation. The discussion underlined the importance of continued engagement and collaboration between the Pakistani and Libyan Armed Forces,” the statement said.

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

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

Pakistan and Libya enjoy strong diplomatic and military ties, having reached a multibillion-dollar conventional arms deal last month.

The deal, described as one of the largest arms sales in Pakistan’s history, was closed after an earlier meeting between the CDF Munir and the deputy commander-in-chief in Benghazi.

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

One Pakistani official confirmed the list was accurate, while another said all the items mentioned were part of the deal, although the exact figures could not be independently verified. officials cited by Reuters He said the agreement covered equipment for land, sea and air forces and would be implemented over a period of approximately two and a half years.

Technically, Libya has 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 UNSCR 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 largely unabated over the past decade, fueling proxy conflicts and deepening divisions between rival factions.

Sources had said The express PAkGazette that Pakistani authorities did not expect the UN embargo to pose a practical obstacle to supposed defense cooperation with Libya, arguing that the embargo had long ceased to function as an effective enforcement mechanism.

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

Sources noted that Libya’s fragmented government structure and deep political divisions within the UN Security Council had significantly undermined law enforcement.