URGENT REQUEST FOR ASSISTANCE IDENTIFYING AIR ASSETS

UNCLAS STATE 055654 SENSITIVE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL SMIG PARM PK SUBJECT: URGENT REQUEST FOR ASSISTANCE IDENTIFYING AIR ASSETS FOR PAKISTAN ¶1. (SBU) This is an action request. See paragraph 3. ¶2. (SBU) Background: The Government of Pakistan faces an increasingly serious humanitarian and counterinsurgency struggle in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) and North West Frontier Province (NWFP),and has requested urgent U.S. assistance in acquiring (via donation, lease, or purchase) 10-12 additional Mi-17 helicopters (a type widely- used by the Pakistani military). The Department of Defense is reviewing U.S. inventory, but it is clear that this will not be sufficient and foreign aircraft will be required to meet the need. ¶3. (SBU) ACTION REQUEST: Department requests posts, in coordination with Defense Attaches, determine the existence of Mi-17 helicopters in host nation military or government inventory. If the host country operates Mi-17s, post is requested to approach the government regarding the availability of helicopters for lease, sale, or donation, stressing the urgent need to deliver assets to Pakistan in the near future. Specific information regarding the timeline, terms, and potential cost of the acquisition would be most helpful to the Department. Please respond by COB Wednesday, June 3. ¶4. (U) Please slug responses for SCA/P. POC is Richard "Trey" Lyons at LyonsRN@state.gov or 202 647 8092. ¶5. (U) Department thanks posts in advance for your assistance with this pressing matter. ¶6. (U) Minimize considered. CLINTON NNNN End Cable Text