Pakistan strikes $4 billion deal to sell weapons to Libyan force, officials say
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Pakistan has reached a deal worth over $4 billion to sell military equipment to the Libyan National Army, four Pakistani officials said, despite a U.N. arms embargo on the fractured North African country.
The officials, all involved in defence matters, declined to be identified because of the sensitivity of the deal.
A copy of the deal before it was finalised that was seen by Reuters listed the purchase of 16 JF-17 fighter jets, a multi-role combat aircraft that has been jointly developed by Pakistan and China, and 12 Super Mushak trainer aircraft, used for basic pilot training.
Libya has been subject to a U.N. arms embargo since 2011, requiring approval from the U.N. for transfers of weapons and related material.
It was not immediately clear whether Pakistan or Libya had applied for any exemptions to the U.N. embargo.
Three of the Pakistani officials said the deal had not broken any U.N. weapons embargo.
One of the officials said Pakistan is not the only one to make deals with Libya; another said there are no sanctions on Haftar; and a third said Benghazi authorities are witnessing better relations with Western governments, given rising fuel exports.
Pakistan has been seeking to expand defence exports, drawing on decades of counterinsurgency experience and a domestic defence industry that spans aircraft production and overhaul, armoured vehicles, munitions and naval construction.
Islamabad has cited its Air Force's performance in clashes with India in May.
"Our recent war with India demonstrated our advanced capabilities to the world," military chief Munir said in remarks broadcast by Al-Hadath {Libyan National Army's media channel} on Sunday.
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