Pakistan, Libya Discuss Security Cooperation During High-Level GHQ Meeting

Field Marshal Khalifa Abu-al-Qasim Haftar, Commander-in-Chief of the Libyan Arab Armed Forces, along with Osama Saad Hammad, Prime Minister of Libya’s Government, called on Syed Asim Munir, Chief of Army Staff (COAS) and Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), at General Headquarters (GHQ), Rawalpindi, according to a statement issued by Inter-Services Public Relations.

During the meeting, both sides exchanged views on issues of mutual interest, with particular emphasis on regional security dynamics, evolving threat environments, and avenues for professional military cooperation. The engagement underscored the importance of sustained dialogue and institutional collaboration between the armed forces of Pakistan and Libya.

Expanding Defence Diplomacy

Field Marshal Asim Munir welcomed the Libyan delegation and reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to strengthening bilateral relations with Libya. He reiterated Islamabad’s support for peace, stability, and institutional capacity-building in Libya, particularly through defence cooperation, training, and professional military engagement.

The meeting comes as Pakistan’s military leadership has intensified outreach with regional and extra-regional partners, reflecting a broader strategy of defence diplomacy amid shifting geopolitical alignments across the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia. In recent months, COAS Asim Munir has held high-level engagements with military and political leaderships across the Gulf and wider region, positioning Pakistan as a professional security partner rather than a participant in regional rivalries.

Libya–Pakistan Security Context

Libya continues to face complex security challenges stemming from political fragmentation, militia activity, and regional interference. For Pakistan, engagement with Libyan authorities aligns with its longstanding policy of supporting state institutions, national armed forces, and UN-backed stabilization efforts without direct involvement in internal conflicts.

Pakistan and Libya share a history of cordial relations dating back decades, including cooperation in defence training and military professionalism. Analysts note that renewed engagement may open pathways for collaboration in areas such as counterterrorism training, institutional reform, and capacity-building for regular armed forces.

Ceremonial Reception at Noor Khan Airbase

Earlier, upon arrival at Noor Khan Airbase, Field Marshal Haftar was received by COAS Asim Munir. The Libyan commander later paid homage to Pakistan’s martyrs and laid a wreath at the martyrs’ memorial at GHQ, reflecting mutual respect and longstanding goodwill between the two countries’ armed forces.

The meeting was held in a cordial and constructive atmosphere, reinforcing the depth of Pakistan–Libya relations and signalling intent to maintain regular high-level military-to-military engagement.