TURKEY WILLING TO TRANSFER F-16S TO PAKISTAN, FOR

C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 004661 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR PM/RSAT - TODD HUGHES, EUR/SE, SA/PB, SA/RA - BOBO WILKINSON/FRED MILLER E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/09/2015 TAGS: MASS TU PK SUBJECT: TURKEY WILLING TO TRANSFER F-16S TO PAKISTAN, FOR A PRICE REF: ANKARA 3843 Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Nancy McEldowney for reasons 1.4 (b) a nd (d). ¶1. (C) This is an action request. MFA Deputy Director General for South Asia Aydin Evirgen informed us on Aug. 9 that the Turkish General Staff (TGS) is willing to provide to Pakistan some F-16 Block 30s that will not be included in Turkey's F-16 modernization program. He added, however, that TGS viewed the loss of any F-16s as creating a "vacuum" in Turkey's air security which would need to be filled. In exchange for parting with some of its Block 30s, the Turkish Air Force would want to receive surplus US Block 40s or 50s. Evirgen acknowledged that if the US had surplus F-16s to give they would likely go to Pakistan, and said that in fact he understood the US had decided to provide Pakistan with two F-16s immediately. If true, he questioned whether Pakistan would still be interested in non-US F-16s. ¶2. (C) Action Request: Post requests Department guidance on whether the requirement for transfer of non-US F-16s to Pakistan remains. If so, please advise whether the US is willing to facilitate the transfer of Turkish F-16s to Pakistan under the TGS terms outlined above. MCELDOWNEY