I knew someone was going to blame the US for this. The US has held the position for a long time that a state of emergency was a bad idea and we've been opposed to Musharraf doing this. Don't blame this one on us. It's all his doing.

Brian, Syracuse, USA

The naivete of US imperialist power as it has been wielded in South Asia for the past thirty years is now probably apparent to everyone other than the US itself. From Jimmy Carter through the present ignoramus a succession of US administrations has encouraged the Pakistani military as they built nuclear weapons, allowed the country to become a haven for far-right extremists and installed the current dictatorship. All in the name of short-term political gains and corporate profits. So now the present powder keg.

ray greenwood, Charleston, West Virginia, USA

Nations formed as homelands for religious groups do not have much of a future. The problem is not with Musharaff. The problem is that Pakistan doesn nit have a raison' d'etre.

Kara Swart, London, UK

Perhaps with all the wishful thinking or thinkful wishing it was easy to miss what now appears to have hidden in plain sight. Gen Mush has never had and still has no interest in dealing with "militants", the Pakistan military has no stomach for dealing with their 'militant' comrades/cousins....the 'militants' and the army are two faces of the same coin, part and parcel. Gen. Mush plays Dr Jeckyll and Mr. Hyde very well indeed. This is the truth the Purrvez cat does not want brought to light just yet. Did W. and Cheney, Rummy and Wolfie, Johnny and Condi ever realize that they really were keeping their real enemy closer? God speed Benazir, here's hoping her step is still nimble enough....

Linda Dial, Calgary, Canada

I thought he was complaining about judicial interference and activism (read 'independent'' judiciary) and militant religious extremists. But here he is arresting human rights workers, including Salima Hashmi, Asma Jehangir, I. M>Rehman and others, most of whom, secular, democratic and liberal (though opposed to continued military rule and Emergency), suspending Constitution, muzzling the media, etc.

Having cast its lot with him, US have very limited options, and can not go the Netherlands' way and freeze aid to Pakistan.

What kind of elections can be held, in January or a year from now, under the Emergency rule ? Democratic parties, including Bhutto's, can not really participate in such a farce and still beat the drum for democracy. I don't think Bhutto has any credibility left, having again indicated a willingness to look for a power-sharing deal. She is interested most in herself, not democracy or the country.

Zafar Iqbal, Chicago, IL, USA

ALLAH,ARMY,AMERICA . America has got the biggest clout in Pakistan. It has threatened Iran which may have 2 kg enriched Uranium in 2020 while 200 kg uranium is in the hands of Musharaff and he has an army which is deserting. US is slowly discovering that Pakistani army can rape Bengalies,kahmiries,sindhies but will show its tail when faced with pathans or punjabies.

captainjohann, Bangalore, India

I beg to the cilicl socities of the world to help Pakistan people to build the independent juduciary, and democratic institutions, and to get rid of the corrupt genrals of Pakistan army who sponsor terrorism, in order to blackmail civil societies, stand with the nation not with few corroupt, generals who are liar, liar and liar. Be with civill society of Pakistan, stand with right not with migh, uphold the values of the democracy not the values of an indiot dictator. I feel shame telling someone that I am from Pakistan, I respect Our nieghbours for them to be proud of thier national identity.
Just compare India with Pakistan, the difference is army never destroyed India, whereas India should worry about Pakistan, Pakistan army is destroying Pakistan, world must get hold of AQKhan in oder to find out how many Pkaistan army generals are involved in nuclear sale.
Stand with democratic forces, and civil society of pakistan then it will be possible to get rid of terrorism and mother of te

shahid, London, UK

just holding elections will not achieve anything.we want the judges he sacked back in the supreme court.and we want free media without his "code of conduct" imposed on them.and we will not sit down until we achieve this.

hassan, lahore,

If things continue the way they are Musharaf's hold on the armed ofrces can't be expected to last . What then ? Who will fight the war against terror ? Hamaden is right. Musharaf has to be guided into the right direction by a superior force. That force cannot be the present USA adminitration which itself confused and insincere. They have mismanaged the fight against Al- Qaeda in Afghanistan. Left to much to Musharaf and allowed him to blackmail the world into extending his franchise. Then before Al Qaeda was licked they got into the mess of Iraq. After 6 years , Al Qaeda & the Taliban have grown stronger and Musharaf more indispensable in the war against terror while the USA is inceasingly unpopular for its support of Musharaf.. It will take a much more competent US administration to figure this out..
Arshad

Arshad Ahmed, Karachi, Pakistan

If the West wants to retain any influence in Pakistan, they will have to wake up and realize that they are backing the wrong horse in Musharraf. He has lost all respect, credibility and support, even amongst the educated moderate elite. His latest action of declaring an "Emergency" reflects his dictatorial bent rather than his oft repeated "Mantra" of being a "Moderate". HE IS THE PROBLEM AND NOT THE SOLUTION.
Husain, G. Pakistan

G. Husain, Islamabad, Pakistan

Sorry but Britain as one of the countries best placed to speak to Musharraf ? There are three that have significant leverage in Pakistan. These are in order of priority : the US, Saudi Arabia (like it or not) and China (perhaps more so than the West would like to admit).

Britain is a bit player that also ran....!

A. Khan, Islambad, Pakistan

Pakistan: Baghdad now, Iran in future
I came back to work in Pakistan last year, after spending all my professional life in Great Britian. The CJ of Pakistan Iftikhar Chaudhry is the only hope Pakistan has for a lawful society. It is very obvious to them that the emergency was declared so that Mush can get rid of him. I have always been a great admirer of the USA, for her values of liberty and freedom. I am however disappointed with the US response and their lack of concern and misjudgement in this matter. I wish and hope and pray am not wrong, but it seems that in Pakistan US is going to repeat the experience of Iran, where people became so fed up with the US support of their ruthless dictator that they threw him away and developed a hatered for the US which has run for a few generations. Pakistan is worst than Baghdad today and my fear is that it will turn out to be another Iran.

farooq naeem, Rahim Yar Khan, Pakistan

It's all a Paradox. Musharaf is a moderate that is taking a hard line. He wants to bring order to the chaos regardless of who is creating it. This results in him looking like a dictator. It is because a Dictator is what he is.
Come on Mush, you've brought Pakistan prosperity over the last 8 years. You can do better. Take off the Uniform and set the country right the way it should be. Pakistan has too many Chiefs and they are bound to come after you if you don't

Abid, Shipley, UK

Anything resembling "Rational" action from Musharraf,comes only when forced to do so by USA.Otherwise all rational actions are taken to imply strengthening his power,regardless of how and how illegal and at what cost,as has been shown by his previous actions.So to give him credit for those reasonable actions,is not right,as he was forced into those.At the same time he will promise anything,fully knowing that he has no intention of honouring those promises.He has only one agenda to keep himself in power and rest follows from there,the perks of the army Generals,joining ranks of corrupt politicians in his cabinet.He,like all other Pak dictators,has the delusions that he has beensent by Allah to tackle this job and he is the only one who can do it.This is the same disease which strikes all Pak Generals,as they surround themselves with sycophants.Pakistan is full of such people and they leave the moment the person falls.Same will happen to Musharraf.

zaman, hamden, usa