Is there an emergency or not?

At a press conference in Islamabad on Saturday, John Negroponte, the US Deputy Secretary of State, acknowledged that Pakistan faced a dangerous situation with the Taliban gaining ground in the nearly-autonomous regions of the North West Frontier Province.

"The situation in Swat is a reminder of the fact that there are issues to deal with regarding violent extremists in this country. The Pakistan Government is undertaking major efforts at the moment to deal with the situation in Swat and I suspect it will be doing so for a while to come," Negroponte said.

This is exactly the type of crisis that President Musharraf recognized in declaring a state of emergency.

"We are facing the threat of terrorism,'' Musharraf said... The army is fighting non-Pakistani gunmen, elements of al-Qaeda and their local sympathizers... the country has "suffered a lot of casualties in the war.''

Still... Negroponte put pressure on Musharraf to end the state of emergency.

Diplomats say Negroponte warned Musharraf that Washington would review its aid -- some 10 billion dollars since 2001, much of it for the military -- but he gave no details.

Meanwhile, for most Pakistanis, life goes on.

According to Muzaffar Riaz, Rwalpindi bridal shop owner, "the political crisis is there, over our heads, and it can come to us. But the reality for most Pakistanis is we are depoliticized, almost beyond belief. And so life goes on. Perhaps even with a vengeance."

Listen... Eids is just around the corner. If you don't prepare your wedding now, crisis or no crisis, you will have to wait another year. (And who's to say next year will be better?)

Published by East West Services, Inc.
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