Pakistan has delivered some weapons to Libya's eastern government led by military ruler Khalifa Haftar, as part of a deal financed by Saudi Arabia, western and Arab officials familiar with the matter told Middle East Eye.

At least five cargo planes from Pakistan carrying armaments were unloaded at Benghazi airport in March, one official who witnessed the deliveries told MEE.

A second official confirmed that the shipments from Pakistan had taken place, but did not say what type of arms were provided.

Reuters first reported that Haftar’s eastern-based government had sealed a $4bn arms deal with Pakistan - the country’s largest - following a trip in December to Benghazi by Pakistan's army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir.

The delivery of Pakistani arms to Libya has not been previously reported, but comes against the backdrop of rising skepticism about the fate of other Pakistani arms deals in Africa.