Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09ANKARA784
2009-06-03 13:55:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Ankara
Cable title:
TURKEY: REQUEST FOR AIR ASSETS FOR PAKISTAN
how-toVZCZCXYZ0008 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHAK #0784 1541355 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 031355Z JUN 09 FM AMEMBASSY ANKARA TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 9815
C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 000784
SIPDIS
FOR SCA/P TREY LYONS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/03/2019
TAGS: PREL SMIG PARM PK TU
SUBJECT: TURKEY: REQUEST FOR AIR ASSETS FOR PAKISTAN
DELIVERED
REF: STATE 55654
Classified By: Acting Pol-Mil Counselor Christopher Rich, reason 1.4 (b
,d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 000784
SIPDIS
FOR SCA/P TREY LYONS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/03/2019
TAGS: PREL SMIG PARM PK TU
SUBJECT: TURKEY: REQUEST FOR AIR ASSETS FOR PAKISTAN
DELIVERED
REF: STATE 55654
Classified By: Acting Pol-Mil Counselor Christopher Rich, reason 1.4 (b
,d)
1. (C) Post believes that Turkey has approximately 13
operational Mi-17 utility helicopters in its inventory. All
of these aircraft are currently deployed at Turkish Jandarma
bases in Ankara and in southeast Turkey.
2. (C) On June 3, we delivered reftel request for Turkey to
consider lease, sale, or donation of some Mi-17s to the
Government of Pakistan on an urgent basis in support of
Pakistan's humanitarian and counterinsurgency requirements in
the FATA and NWFP. MFA Americas Head of Department Serhat
Aksen told us that his office was coordinating our request
with the MFA South Asia Department, and that our request
would have to be vetted by the military leadership at Turkish
General Staff. Aksen pledged to report back to us, but could
not suggest a timeline for any decision.
3. (C) Comment: We believe all of these aircraft are
currently in use in support of on-going military operations
against the Kurdish terrorist organization PKK in southeast
Turkey. We assess that it is unlikely that some or any could
be spared for sale/lease to Pakistan at the current time, but
will follow up closely with MFA on the prospects.
Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at
http://www.intelink.sgov.gov/wiki/Portal:Turk ey
SILLIMAN
SIPDIS
FOR SCA/P TREY LYONS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/03/2019
TAGS: PREL SMIG PARM PK TU
SUBJECT: TURKEY: REQUEST FOR AIR ASSETS FOR PAKISTAN
DELIVERED
REF: STATE 55654
Classified By: Acting Pol-Mil Counselor Christopher Rich, reason 1.4 (b
,d)
1. (C) Post believes that Turkey has approximately 13
operational Mi-17 utility helicopters in its inventory. All
of these aircraft are currently deployed at Turkish Jandarma
bases in Ankara and in southeast Turkey.
2. (C) On June 3, we delivered reftel request for Turkey to
consider lease, sale, or donation of some Mi-17s to the
Government of Pakistan on an urgent basis in support of
Pakistan's humanitarian and counterinsurgency requirements in
the FATA and NWFP. MFA Americas Head of Department Serhat
Aksen told us that his office was coordinating our request
with the MFA South Asia Department, and that our request
would have to be vetted by the military leadership at Turkish
General Staff. Aksen pledged to report back to us, but could
not suggest a timeline for any decision.
3. (C) Comment: We believe all of these aircraft are
currently in use in support of on-going military operations
against the Kurdish terrorist organization PKK in southeast
Turkey. We assess that it is unlikely that some or any could
be spared for sale/lease to Pakistan at the current time, but
will follow up closely with MFA on the prospects.
Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at
http://www.intelink.sgov.gov/wiki/Portal:Turk ey
SILLIMAN