Pakistan has struck a military equipment deal worth more than $4 billion with Libya’s eastern-based Libyan National Army (LNA), despite a long-standing United Nations arms embargo on the conflict-scarred North African country.
According to Pakistani officials, the agreement, described as one of Pakistan’s largest-ever arms exports, was finalised following a meeting last week in Benghazi.
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Any arms agreement with the LNA is likely to draw scrutiny, given Libya’s prolonged instability since a 2011 NATO-backed uprising that ousted Muammar Gaddafi and left the country divided between rival authorities, Reuters reported.
The purchase includes 16 JF-17 fighter jets, a multirole combat aircraft jointly developed by Pakistan and China, as well as 12 Super Mushak trainer aircraft used for basic pilot training.
One of the officials said the package includes land, sea and air equipment to be delivered over about two and a half years, and could include the JF-17 jets. Two officials put the value of the deal at more than $4 billion, while two others estimated it at $4.6 billion.
Defence cooperation pact
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The LNA’s official media channel reported on Sunday that it had entered into a defence cooperation agreement with Pakistan covering weapons sales, joint training and military manufacturing, without disclosing further details.
Three of the Pakistani officials said the agreement does not violate the U.N. arms embargo.
Pakistan has been pushing to expand its defence exports, leveraging decades of counterinsurgency experience and a domestic defence industry that produces and services aircraft, armoured vehicles, munitions and naval vessels.
