Pakistani premier vows to foster friendly ties with Libya

​​​​​​​By Berk Kutay Gokmen

ISTANBUL (AA) - Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif pledged Tuesday to foster friendly ties with Libya.

He made the remarks during a meeting with Eastern Libyan commander Khalifa Haftar in Islamabad, according to Pakistani state-run Pakistan Television (PTV).

The two sides “exchanged views on matters of mutual interest and underscored the importance of strengthening bilateral relations,” it said. Sharif “reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to fostering friendly relations with Libya and emphasized the importance of continued engagement and dialogue.”

The meeting reflected the “shared desire to enhance cooperation in areas of common concern and to promote peace, stability, and development at regional and international levels,” according to PTV.

Haftar met Monday with Pakistan's Chief of Defense Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir in Rawalpindi, where they underscored "the importance of continued engagement and collaboration" between the two sides, according to Pakistan military's media wing.

In December, the Pakistani army chief visited Benghazi, where he concluded an arms deal worth more than $4 billion with Saddam Haftar, the deputy commander of Libya’s eastern forces, according to reports from international media.

Libya remains divided between two rival administrations: one led by Abdul Hamid Dbeibeh in Tripoli, which controls the west of the country, and another appointed by the House of Representatives (parliament) in early 2022, led by Osama Hammad, and based in Benghazi, which governs the east and much of the south.