Islamabad/Libia: Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) and Chief of Army Staff, Field Marshal Asim Munir, during his official visit to Libya, reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to strengthening defence ties with the North African country, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said on Thursday.
Upon arrival, Field Marshal Munir was received with a guard of honour by a disciplined contingent of the Libyan Armed Forces, reflecting the high-level protocol accorded to the visiting dignitary. During his visit, he held extensive meetings with Libya’s Commander-in-Chief, Field Marshal Khalifa Belqasim Haftar, and Deputy Commander-in-Chief, Lieutenant General Saddam Khalifa Haftar.
According to the ISPR, the discussions focused on a broad range of issues, including mutual strategic interests, regional security dynamics, and ways to deepen bilateral defence and military-to-military cooperation. Both sides emphasised the importance of collaboration in training, capacity building, and counter-terrorism operations, underscoring shared security concerns in the region.
The Libyan leadership, particularly Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar, expressed admiration for the professionalism of the Pakistan armed forces and indicated a strong desire to further expand defence cooperation. The meeting also revisited earlier agreements on defence industrial collaboration, technical expertise exchange, and contemporary security challenges.
The ISPR highlighted that in July, Lieutenant General Saddam Khalifa Haftar had visited Pakistan’s General Headquarters in Rawalpindi, where both countries had agreed on joint initiatives in the defence industry. The current discussions are viewed as a continuation of these efforts, aimed at fostering long-term strategic and technical partnerships.
Officials noted that this visit reflects Pakistan’s consistent policy of building defence partnerships in regions of strategic interest and addressing shared security challenges through collaboration and capacity enhancement.
Experts believe such engagements not only strengthen bilateral military relations but also enhance Pakistan’s influence in the broader Mediterranean and North African security environment.