Washington, Nov.4 : U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates is monitoring the fast-developing situation in Pakistan,even as the Pentagon said that the declaration of state of emergency in that country would not affect U.S. military support to Islamabad.

"Pakistan is a very important ally in the war on terror and he is closely following the developments there,'' Pentagon spokesman Geoff 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 added.

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is taking the administration's lead in dealing with the situation, Morrell said.

He also confirmed that Gates had not spoken to Musharraf and had no plans to during his 17-hour flight to Beijing. (ANI)