Pakistan is advancing plans to establish a consulate in Benghazi, the eastern Libyan city controlled by the Libyan National Army (LNA), according to sources cited in a Reuters report published on February 3, 2026.
The move follows high-level engagements between Pakistani leaders and LNA commander Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar, who visited Islamabad recently, and comes amid a major $4 billion defense deal between Pakistan and the LNA.
Diplomatic Boost for Eastern Authorities
The proposed consulate would place Pakistan among a limited number of countries maintaining a diplomatic presence in Benghazi. Sources indicate this step could enhance the legitimacy and international standing of Libya’s eastern authorities in their long-standing rivalry with the U.N.-recognized government based in Tripoli, which controls the western part of the country.
Tied to Expanding Defense Cooperation
Talks on the consulate gained momentum after Pakistan’s army chief visited Benghazi in December 2025 to sign the multibillion-dollar arms agreement—one of Pakistan’s largest-ever defense exports.
The deal, which Pakistani officials insist complies with U.N. restrictions, includes support for the Libyan air force’s capability development. During Haftar’s ongoing visit, discussions with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir, and air force leaders focused on broader bilateral cooperation, joint training, and regional issues.
Libya’s Ongoing Division
Libya has remained fractured since the 2011 NATO-backed uprising that ousted Muammar Gaddafi, escalating into civil war in 2014. The Tripoli-based government holds the west, while Haftar’s LNA dominates the east and south, including key oilfields. The U.N. arms embargo, in place since 2011, has proven largely ineffective according to experts.
Limited Official Responses
Pakistan’s prime minister’s office and foreign ministry did not comment on the report. Eastern Libyan authorities were not immediately reachable.
The initiative reflects strengthening Pakistan-Libya ties, building on recent military pacts and Haftar’s alliances with regional players like the UAE.
This development highlights Pakistan’s growing role in North African defense markets while navigating Libya’s complex political landscape.