US embassy cable - 05ANKARA4661

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