pentagon ok with martial law in pakistan

from the news: The Pentagon said Gen. Pervez Musharraf's declaration of state of emergency in Pakistan does not affect U.S. military support, a spokesman said.

U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates is monitoring the fast-developing situation, Pentagon spokesman Geoff Morrell said.

"Pakistan is a very important ally in the war on terror and he is closely following the developments there," Morrell told reporters aboard Gates' plane as he traveled to China.

The emergency declaration "does not impact our military support of Pakistan" or its efforts in the war on terror, Morrell said of the country, which is a key U.S. partner in the fight against al-Qaida militants.

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is taking the administration’s lead in dealing with the situation, Morrell said, and Gates had not spoken to Musharraf and had no plans to during his 17-hour flight to Beijing.