On December 23rd, the Libyan National Army (LNA), under the command of Marshal Khalifa Haftar, signed a strategic partnership with Pakistan aimed at strengthening its military capabilities, particularly in aviation. Valued between 4 and 4.6 billion dollars, the agreement includes the provision of 16 JF-17 Thunder multi-role aircraft and 12 Super Mushshak training planes. This cooperation marks a turning point for the LNA, which seeks to diversify its equipment and consolidate its influence in eastern and southern Libya.
To enhance the air capabilities of the Libyan National Army (LNA), which until now relied mainly on Russian defense systems and Chinese drones for surveillance and intelligence operations, the LNA, led by Marshal Khalifa Haftar, signed a strategic partnership with Pakistan on this December 23rd, involving a military contract valued between 4 and 4.6 billion dollars. The agreement, signed in Benghazi, Libya, aims to strengthen the LNA’s military capacities in eastern and southern Libya.
We are announcing the start of a new phase of strategic military cooperation with Pakistan. However, some foreign countries are increasingly open to providing training and military assistance to Libyan forces, both in the East and the West, despite existing restrictions.
Khalifa Haftar, Head of the national army
The agreement includes the provision of 16 JF-17 Thunder multi-role aircraft, jointly developed by Pakistan and China, as well as 12 Super Mushshak training planes. In addition to the aircraft, the deal provides for pilot training programs and industrial cooperation projects, expected to take place over two and a half years. The agreement is also seen as a leverage point for the LNA, which controls eastern and southern Libya, including the majority of the country’s oil fields.
In today’s world, there is no longer a rule of law. In reality, it is the law of the jungle that prevails, and in the law of the jungle, force takes precedence over rights. This power, which currently exists elsewhere and is absent in the Muslim world, essentially comes from the possession of knowledge that was taken from us.
Asim Munir, Head of the pakistani army
For Libya, this agreement with Pakistan represents a strategic turning point in strengthening its military capabilities and its geopolitical position within the Maghreb. Signed in a context where national security remains a key priority, the deal reflects the country’s ongoing efforts to restore and consolidate long-term stability.
