Pakistan and Libya have agreed on a major military equipment deal worth more than $4 billion, according to a Reuters report. The agreement was finalised after a recent meeting between Pakistan Army Chief General Asim Munir and senior military leaders of Libya. The deal includes the sale of fighter jets and trainer aircraft to Libya.

The announcement comes at a time when General Munir made controversial and widely disputed claims about Pakistan’s performance in its recent conflict with India. Munir’s remarks have been rejected by Indian officials and fact-checked as inaccurate.

The military deal was finalised after a meeting last week in Benghazi, a city in eastern Libya. The talks took place between General Asim Munir and Saddam Khalifa Haftar, who is the Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Libyan National Army (LNA). Libya’s military leadership discussed strengthening cooperation with Pakistan.

During this interaction, General Munir spoke about courage and technology. He said, “removing fear allows a nation to achieve anything and Pakistan learned this lesson long ago.” He added that Pakistan had depended on “90 per cent indigenous technology” during its recent conflict with India.

In his remarks, Munir claimed that Pakistan’s air force had shot down several Indian aircraft during the conflict. He said the Pakistan Air Force had destroyed Indian Rafale jets, Mirage 2000, Su-30 and MiG-29 aircraft. He also claimed that Pakistan had destroyed India’s S-400 air defence system.

However, these claims have been repeatedly rejected by Indian authorities, who have denied that any Rafale jets or the S-400 system were destroyed. Independent fact-checkers have also labelled such claims as false or unverified. General Munir also told Libyan commanders that Pakistan would share “whatever technological equipment it possesses” with Libya. He described Libya as a “brotherly nation” and stressed that a strong armed force helps ensure the existence of the nation.

He emphasised the need for strong defence cooperation and expressed Pakistan’s willingness to support Libya in strengthening its military. Munir’s comments were seen as part of efforts to deepen ties between the two countries.

Four unnamed Pakistani officials told Reuters that the defence deal was finalised after the meeting between Munir and Haftar in Benghazi. They said the agreement was signed despite a United Nations arms embargo on Libya that has been in place since 2011.

The officials explained that the deal is sensitive, which is why they spoke on condition of anonymity. The embargo was originally imposed after Libya’s political upheaval in 2011 and requires UN approval for weapons sales to the country.

A copy of the agreement that was reviewed by Reuters before it was finalised listed several items. This includes: 16 JF-17 fighter jets – a multi-role combat aircraft developed jointly by Pakistan and China and 12 Super Mushak trainer aircraft – used for basic pilot training.

Officials said the equipment would cover land, sea, and air forces, and the delivery will take place over two and a half years. Two of the officials said the agreement is worth more than $4 billion, while the other two estimated it at $4.6 billion.

The JF-17 is a fighter jet that Pakistan markets as a lower-cost alternative to Western aircraft, and the Super Mushak is designed to help train new pilots.

Libya’s LNA official media said it had signed a defence cooperation pact with Pakistan that includes weapons sales, joint training programmes, and military manufacturing, but it did not share further details.

Pakistan has been working to expand its defence exports in recent years. Its defence industry includes aircraft production, armoured vehicles, munitions, and naval construction. Officials believe that deals like this can help Pakistan grow its defence industry and find new markets for its military products.  Pakistan has also been highlighting what it calls its air force’s strong performance in the recent conflict with India, using this narrative to promote its JF-17 fighter jets to potential buyers.

In addition to the agreement with Libya, Pakistan has been strengthening military ties with other countries. It signed a Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement with Saudi Arabia in September 2025 and has held high-level defence talks with Qatar. These moves are part of Pakistan’s efforts to expand its strategic influence and defence partnerships.

Observers note that this deal could help Pakistan increase its presence in North Africa, a region where many foreign powers are seeking influence. Libya, in particular, remains politically divided, with rival authorities controlling different parts of the country. The deal is seen as part of a broader competition for influence among regional actors, and Pakistan’s entry into this space could have implications for its global defence export strategy.