Pakistan's $4.6B Libya Deal: Militarised Diplomacy Bypasses UN Embargo

• Pakistan finalized a $4.6 billion defence deal with Libya's LNA on December 21, including 16 JF-17 Thunder jets and 12 Super Mushak trainers.
• This deal, matching a previous Azerbaijan contract, positions Pakistan as a primary defence vendor, moving beyond a client state role.
• The transaction bypasses the UN arms embargo on Libya, signaling Pakistan's assertive, risk-tolerant approach to diversify its defence industry.
• The deal highlights Pakistan's growing confidence in marketing co-developed defence systems, leveraging Chinese technology and its own combat experience.
• It reveals the military establishment's role as foreign policy architect, potentially creating regional complexities and sidelining civilian governance.

Why It Matters: Pakistan's Libya deal signifies assertive militarised diplomacy, bypassing UN embargoes and boosting its defence industry.