Pakistan bypasses UN sanctions, plans $4 billion arms sale to Libyan rebel group
Islamabad (The Uttam Hindu): Despite facing severe economic difficulties, Pakistan has reportedly gone ahead with a major defence deal that bypasses United Nations arms restrictions. Pakistan has finalised an arms agreement worth over $4 billion with the Libyan National Army (LNA), a rebel group operating in Libya, in clear violation of UN sanctions.
According to four Pakistani officials who spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter, the deal involves the supply of advanced military equipment to the LNA. This is being described as the largest arms export agreement in Pakistan’s history.
Officials said the agreement was finalised last week in Libya’s eastern city of Benghazi, where Pakistan Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir held a high-level meeting with Saddam Khalifa Haftar, the deputy commander-in-chief of the LNA. Following the meeting, both sides agreed to strengthen defence cooperation and proceed with the arms deal.
Documents related to the agreement reveal that Pakistan will supply 16 JF-17 multirole fighter jets to the Libyan group. These fighter aircraft have been jointly developed by Pakistan and China. In addition, the package includes 12 Super Mushshak trainer aircraft used for basic pilot training. The deliveries are expected to be completed over the next two and a half years. Officials indicated that ground and naval equipment could also be included, potentially increasing the total value of the deal to around $4.6 billion.
The move is likely to draw international criticism, as the United Nations Security Council has imposed a strict arms embargo on Libya. Since the fall of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, Libya has remained divided and embroiled in civil conflict. While the UN recognises the Government of National Unity based in Tripoli, the eastern and southern regions are controlled by the LNA led by Khalifa Haftar, which the UN considers a rebel force comprising militias and foreign mercenaries.
Following confirmation of the deal, LNA’s official media stated on Sunday that a defence cooperation agreement had been signed with Pakistan, covering arms supplies, joint training and military capacity building. Haftar also said in a televised statement that this agreement marks the beginning of a new phase of strategic military cooperation with Pakistan. Analysts fear that such a deal could further intensify the ongoing conflict in Libya.