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