Pakistan has finalized a military equipment deal worth over $4 billion with the Libyan National Army (LNA), marking one of the largest arms sales in the country’s history, according to multiple Pakistani officials. The agreement, signed despite a longstanding United Nations arms embargo on Libya, is expected to span 2½ years and includes fighter jets, trainer aircraft, and equipment for land, air, and naval operations.

Key Details of the Pakistan-Libya Arms Deal

The defense deal reportedly covers:

• 16 JF-17 fighter jets, a multi-role aircraft co-developed by Pakistan and China.
• 12 Super Mushak trainer aircraft, used for basic pilot training.
• Additional military equipment for land, sea, and air operations.

Sources indicate that the deal is valued between $4 billion and $4.6 billion, highlighting Pakistan’s growing presence in international defense markets. While specific numbers and details remain sensitive, officials confirmed that the deal includes joint military training and collaboration in defense manufacturing.

Strategic Implications Amid Libya’s Instability

Libya has been politically fragmented since the 2011 NATO-backed uprising, with the LNA controlling the east and south of the country, including major oilfields, while the UN-recognized Government of National Unity (GNU) governs the west. Any military cooperation with the LNA could face scrutiny due to ongoing instability, though Pakistani officials have emphasized that the deal does not violate UN sanctions.

A December 2024 UN panel of experts report described the arms embargo on Libya as “ineffective,” noting that foreign states have increasingly provided military assistance and training to both eastern and western Libyan forces despite restrictions.

Pakistan’s Expanding Defense Exports

The Libya deal comes as Pakistan seeks to expand its defense exports, leveraging a domestic defense industry that produces:

• Aircraft and trainer jets
• Armored vehicles
• Naval vessels and equipment
• Munitions and related defense hardware

Military Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir highlighted the Pakistan Air Force’s capabilities in recent clashes with India as a demonstration of advanced technology and operational readiness. The JF-17 fighter jet, co-developed with China, is marketed as a cost-effective multi-role fighter, positioning Pakistan as a strategic alternative to Western defense suppliers.

Regional and Global Implications

The deal strengthens Pakistan’s footprint in North Africa, a region of strategic interest for global powers competing for influence over Libya’s fragmented security institutions and oil-backed economy. Pakistan has also deepened defense and security ties with Gulf partners, signing a Strategic Mutual Defense Agreement with Saudi Arabia in September 2025 and holding high-level defense talks with Qatar.

LNA deputy commander Saddam Khalifa Haftar announced the cooperation pact, which includes weapons sales, training programs, and joint military manufacturing, describing it as the launch of a “new phase of strategic military cooperation with Pakistan.”

UN Arms Embargo and Compliance

While Libya remains subject to the UN arms embargo since 2011, Pakistani officials stressed that the agreement adheres to international regulations and does not violate any sanctions. The LNA’s improved relations with Western countries, driven by rising oil exports and stability efforts in eastern Libya, may further legitimize such international defense cooperation.