Pakistan delivers weapons to Libya's Haftar as part of Saudi-financed deal, sources say

Pakistan delivers weapons to Libya's Haftar as part of Saudi-financed deal, sources say Submitted by Sean Mathews on Mon, 04/20/2026 - 21:33 At least five cargo planes from Pakistan carrying armaments were unloaded at Benghazi airport in March, sources say Libyan soldiers train in the US-led Operation Flintlock military exercises on 14 April, 2026 (AFRICOM media release) Off Pakistan has delivered some weapons to Libya's eastern government led by military ruler Khalifa Haftar, as part of a deal financed by Saudi Arabia, Western and Arab officials familiar with the matter told Middle East Eye. At least five cargo planes from Pakistan carrying armaments were unloaded at Benghazi airport in March, one official who witnessed the deliveries told MEE. A second official confirmed that the shipments from Pakistan had taken place, but did not say what type of arms were provided. Reuters first reported that Haftar’s eastern-based government had sealed a $4bn arms deal with Pakistan - the country’s largest - following a trip in December to Benghazi by Pakistan's army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir.  The delivery of Pakistani arms to Libya has not been previously reported, but comes against the backdrop of rising skepticism about the fate of other Pakistani arms deals in Africa. Reuters reported on Monday that a Pakistani arms deal with Sudan's government collapsed after Saudi Arabia pulled its pledge to finance the purchase. The Arab and Western sources who spoke with MEE said that Saudi Arabia facilitated the March shipments of arms from Pakistan on behalf of Haftar’s military. 'This deal was done to pull Haftar away from the UAE. Saudi Arabia is using honey, and saying ‘we can sponsor you' - Arab official According to Arab and Western sources, Saudi Arabia is seeking to position itself as the primary patron of Haftar, seeking to displace the UAE’s longstanding influence. A Libyan source familiar with the mattter who spoke with MEE was skeptical the process could work. The source said the Haftar family continues to hold significant wealth and property in the Emirates. "This deal was done to pull Haftar away from the UAE. Saudi Arabia is using honey, and saying ‘we can sponsor you'," the Arab official told MEE. Khalifa Haftar, 82, and his son and likely successor, Saddam, made a rare visit to Islamabad to meet Munir and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in early February. The Arab official told MEE that the terms of the weapons shipments delivered in March were agreed during that visit. Libya’s eastern military ruler Khalifa Haftar meets with Pakistan’s army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir at Pakistan Army Headquarters in Rawalpindi (Inter Services Public Relations/AFP) MEE reached out to the Saudi and Pakistani embassies in Washington, DC for comment but did not receive a response by the time of publication. The Western and Arab officials told MEE that Saudi Arabia wanted Haftar to stamp out the cross-border flow of weapons from southeastern Libya to the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Sudan. There is a UN arms embargo on Libya, but that has failed to stop outside powers from flooding the country with weapons.  Libya is divided into two, with an internationally recognised government in Tripoli headed by Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibeh and a government in the east run by Haftar.  Arms for integration? Saudi Arabia is also supporting the integration of Haftar's military with that of the Tripoli administration, the sources said. The two sides trained alongside each other in the March US-led Flintlock exercises. They have also set up a joint military committee. "There is a sense that Saudi Arabia is buying Haftar’s cooperation with new supplies," the Western official said. Saudi crown prince sent complaint letter to UAE 'spy sheikh' about Yemen, Sudan Read More » "The integration of Libya’s military is against the UAE’s interest vis-a-vis Sudan," the source added. Saudi Arabia and UAE were once close allies, jointly intervening in Yemen’s civil war in a failed effort to oust the Houthis and backing Haftar during his unsuccessful 2019 offensive to seize Tripoli. Their relationship, however, later deteriorated over the war in Sudan, particularly after Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman lobbied US President Donald Trump against the UAE’s support for the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces. Tensions escalated further in December, when Saudi Arabia launched strikes on UAE-backed militia allies in Yemen. Despite the rift, both sides have sought to contain the fallout with bin Salman sending a letter to UAE National Security Advisor Tahnoon bin Zayed in February outlining Riyadh’s grievances while also calling for mediation. The US-Israeli war on Iran sparked speculation among some analysts that Riyadh and Abu Dhabi would put differences aside, but the conflict only appears to have deepened their divisions. The kingdom has tried to strike a balance between meeting US requests for greater access to basing and airspaces, while lobbying for a negotiated settlement to the war. The UAE, meanwhile, has doubled down on a hawkish stance against Iran, and has appeared frustrated with Washington’s direct talks with Tehran which have been facilitated by Pakistan. Inside Libya News Post Date Override 0 Update Date Mon, 05/04/2020 - 21:19 Update Date Override 0