ISLAMABAD : Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, NI (M), HJ, COAS & CDF, who is on a official visit to Libya, called on Field Marshal Khalifa Belqasim Haftar, Commander-in-Chief of the Libyan Arab Armed Forces and Lieutenant General Saddam Khalifa Haftar, Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Libyan Arab Armed Forces.
On arrival, the Field Marshal was accorded a Guard of Honour by a smartly turned-out contingent of the Libyan Armed Forces.
Matters of mutual interest, regional security dynamics, and avenues for enhancing bilateral defence and military-to-military cooperation were discussed during the meeting with Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar.
Both sides underscored the importance of collaboration in training, capacity building, and counter-terrorism domains.
Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to strengthening defence ties with Libya, based on shared interests.
Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar appreciated the professionalism of the Pakistan Armed Forces and expressed his desire to further expand defence cooperation between the two countries.
General Khalifa Haftar is a Libyan-American politician, military officer, and the commander of the Tobruk-based Libyan National Army (LNA). In 2015, he was appointed commander of the armed forces loyal to the elected legislative body, the Libyan House of Representatives. He has been the de facto ruler of the eastern part of Libya since 2017, governing the region as a military dictatorship under the LNA.
Haftar has at least six sons and a daughter. Lt Gen Saddam Haftar is leading Khalifa Haftar’s army. He visited Pakistan with big delegation in July this year.
Another Son Khalid Haftar is officer in the Libyan National Army heading Madkhali brigades, including the 106th Brigade accused of abducting Seham Sergiwa in 2019 (Libyan psychologist elected to the Libyan parliament in 2014. She was abducted by a Libyan National Army militia loyal to Khalifa Haftar on 17 July 2019. The United Nations Support Mission in Libya expressed its deep concern and stated that “silencing the voices of women in decision-making positions [would] not be tolerated) .
Another son, Al-Sadiq Haftar, is also in Libya. Belqasim Haftar serves as his father’s top political advisor.Two other sons, Uqba Haftar, who works in real estate, and Al-Muntasir Haftar as well as his daughter Asma Haftar live in Virginia in the United States
