On 2 February, Libyan National Army (LNA) Commander Khalifa Haftar travelled to Pakistan for an official visit at the head of a delegation including his son and Deputy Commander Saddam Haftar, among others. Haftar was received by Pakistan’s Chief of Defense Forces (and Chief of Army Staff) Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir and a number of senior leaders of Pakistan Army amid a high-level formal reception ceremony.
The LNA said the visit comes in the framework of strengthening bilateral relations and opening broader horizons for coordination in areas of shared interest between ‘two sister countries’. According to the LNA, Munir expressed his immense happiness at Haftar’s visit while Haftar expressed his pleasure at the warm reception and welcome, saying it reflects the depth of the relationship between the two leaders and their people, emphasizing his outlook on developing bilateral ties and opening broad horizons for partnership in various fields. Munir reaffirmed Pakistan’s ‘commitment to strengthening bilateral relations with Libya,’ and emphasized Islamabad’s support for ‘peace, stability, and institutional development’ in the North African country.
The Government of National Stability (GNS) PM Osama Hammad had arrived in Islamabad earlier on 31 January on an official visit to discuss bilateral trade and defence cooperation. He was received by Pakistani Finance Minister Bilal Azhar Kayani, the Director General of the Pakistani Armed Forces Command, and the Director of the Armed Forces Command.
On 3 February, a delegation comprising Khalifa Haftar, Saddam Haftar and Osama Hammad, among others, met with the Pakistani Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif.