Tazeen Akhtar
The visiting so called Commander in Chief of Libyan Armed Forces, Saddam Khalifa Haftar is not the C-in-C of the armed forces of the UN recognized Gov of National Unity of Libya. He is representing the rival regime that is called Tobruk gov of Libya. Interestingly ! Gov of Pakistan has never recognized this regime as the legal representative of Libyan people nor Pakistan has any embassy there.
Neither the military and gov side have clarified anything about two groups of Libyan Army nor Ministery of Foreign Affairs has issued any thing in this regard. If it is about engaging both groups only to play a role in unity of Libyan rival groups, it should be shared by the concerned sides in Islamabad.
Lieutenant General Saddam Khalifa Haftar, is son of Self Appointed Field Marshal General Khalifa Haftar, former general of Qazafi’s Army and presently leading so called Libyan National Army that is actually the rival militia to official Libyan Army. General Haftar continued rebellion against the legal and UN recognized Gov of National Accord in past years.
Ambassador of Pakistan to Tripoli , Government of National Unity , The only Recognized gov , Maj Gen R Anjum Enayat with The Chief of Army Staff of Libya , Mohammed Al-Haddad / Haddad never visited Pakistan / Lt Gen Saddam Haftar visited couple of days ago , he is not the commander of overall national army of Libya / Situationer / Pakistan welcomed the commander of a regime that is not recognized internationally and Pakistan does not have diplomatic relations with that regime , established in Tobruk by Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar / Pakistan Embassy in Tripoli has not shared anything about Saddam’s visit neither on its social media nor on its website / On both places – General Haddad is Army Chief of Libya.
General Khalifa Haftar has six sons who are holding the positions of political and military power in the East regime. While many Libyans have little love for Khalifa Haftar, they acknowledge that the prospect of his sons taking over their father’s networks could plunge the country into another round of instability. Over the past few years, different countries have been backing different son. Each son will try to be more feudal, protecting his interests and inflicting more corruption, death and destruction in Libya.
This Regime is supported by Egypt, UAE, USA and in Nov 2021, this Saddam Haftar visited Israel as well to seek military help. Turkiye supports the Tripoli GNU. But Turkiye itself welcomed Saddam in April 2025 in Ankara. May be Turkiye is working on a consensus between both sides of Libya. There is an urgent need for unified political institutions and a unified government that can organizes long awaited parliamentary and presidential elections in the country.
Pakistan Libya Agree on Defense Industrial Cooperation & Exchange of Technical Expertise
Haftar held a meeting with the Turkish Minister of Defense Yaşar Güler during which the two parties “discussed ways to enhance cooperation between the two countries.
On 10 March 2021, the House of Representatives formally approved the formation of a Government of National Unity GNU led by Mohamed al-Menfi as chairman of the Presidential Council and Abdul Hamid Dbeibeh as Prime Minister with the aim of unifying the Government of National Accord with the rival Tobruk-based Government but this task is still unfulfilled that means Tobruk Regime carries no legal base.
Pakistan has diplomatic relations with GNU and Pakistan embassy is situated in Tripoli, the headquarter or capital of GNU gov. Maj Gen R Anjum Enayat is Ambassador there.
Interestingly , Pak embassy in Libya has shared not a single line or single picture of the visit of ” Libyan Commander in Chief ” to Pakistan while the Commander had meetings with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Field Marshall Asim Munir with DG ISI Lt Gen Asim Malik in presence and Naval Chief. It is an impossible.
https://web.facebook.com/pakemblibya
Libyan Commander-in-Chief calls on Prime Minister Pakistan – Sides Discuss Bilateral Cooperation
Libyan ” Commander in Chief ” is not alone. He visited along with a big delegation of other military officials including other services as well. It means ;
1- Pakistan is going to recognize second group ? If that is it, the recognition should have been announced before the visit of the delegation.
2- How it is possible to have recognition of two rival regimes of the same country?
3- Pakistan has been asked to receive the delegation by the supporting countries of General Khalifa Haftar? That is Turkiye or any other country ?
This is military delegation, therefore it is quite understandable that not the gov of Pakistan but Army of Pakistan paved the way to the welcome of the military commanders of a regime that has no legal relations with Pakistan. Despite , the delegation discussed cooperation in military and defense production. No doubt, it is one and only example in the whole world.
Who is Saddam Haftar ?
He was 20 when the 2011 anti-Gaddafi uprising erupted, bringing his father back home from exile. The young man’s fortunes started to rise after 2014 when his father attacked rival armed groups, triggering the second Libyan civil war, which resulted in Khalifa Haftar’s LNA controlling the eastern Cyrenaica region.
On 1 November 2021, Saddam Haftar reportedly visited Tel Aviv for a secret meeting with Israeli officials, allegedly seeking to establish diplomatic relations in return for Israeli “military and diplomatic assistance”.It is unknown whom he met there, and Libya and Israel currently have no diplomatic relations.
Later that same month, Saddam Haftar allegedly guaranteed the safety of Saif al-Islam Gaddafi and Bashir Saleh to register themselves as presidential candidates in Sabha.
Ten days later, the Tariq Ben Zeyad Brigade, led by Saddam and Khalid, stormed the courthouse in Sabha to prevent judges from hearing Saif al-Islam Gaddafi’s appeal to participate in the presidential election. The gunmen used arms against the staffers and judges and then kicked them out.
In January 2023, Khalifa Haftar pledged to withdraw from the Libyan presidential election on the condition that his sons Saddam and Belqasim are allowed to run. Saddam Haftar is seen as the heir apparent of Khalifa Haftar.
On 28 April 2025, Saddam, as the envoy of LNA commander Khalifa Haftar, met in Washington D.C. with Massad Boulos, senior advisor to U.S. President Donald Trump, and other senior Republican officials, focusing on advancing U.S. interests to achieve “a secure, unified, and prosperous Libya.” He possibly agreed to a deal with the United States to deport immigrants from the U.S. to Libya.
Arrest warrant
In August 2024, Spain issued an arrest warrant for Saddam Haftar while he was returning to Libya from Italy, alleging that he was involved in smuggling a shipment of weapons, destined for the United Arab Emirates, that was intercepted by Spanish police several months earlier.
Various American oligarchs began pressuring Spain to nullify its arrest warrant for Saddam Haftar. Saddam Haftar was reportedly detained for questioning at an airport in Naples for an hour after his name appeared on a common EU database.
Menfi Outlines Comprehensive Solution to the situation in Libya at 79th UNGA
Two GOVs in Libya
Libya currently has two rival governments, making the question of a single legitimate ruler complex. The internationally recognized Government of National Unity (GNU), led by Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibeh, is based in Tripoli. However, the eastern-based parliament formed a rival Government of National Stability (GNS) with Fathi Bashagha as prime minister. Therefore, neither government holds undisputed legitimacy, and Libya remains politically divided.
Government of National Unity (GNU):
This government was formed in March 2021 with the aim of unifying Libya and holding elections. It is internationally recognized and based in Tripoli.
Government of National Stability (GNS):
Established by the eastern-based parliament in March 2022, the GNS challenges the GNU’s authority.
Legitimacy:
The GNU’s legitimacy is tied to international recognition, while the GNS is supported by the eastern parliament but struggles to gain international recognition.
Political Division:
Libya’s political landscape remains fragmented, with competing claims to power and influence, making it difficult to pinpoint a single, universally accepted legitimate ruler.
