US says it played no role in Sharifs return to Pakistan

The United States has said that it played no part in arranging former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharifs return to Pakistan.

Washington, Nov 28 : The United States has said that it played no part in arranging former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's return to Pakistan.

Cautiously welcoming Sharif's return, a US State Department official said that it was for the people of Pakistan, and not the US, to say whether his return will be good for them.

The official also welcomed General Pervez Musharraf's decision to retire from the army, and urged him to end the state of emergency as well.

"We cannot say whether or not we welcome it," said the official when asked if Washington welcomed Sharif's return.

"It is not for us to say, it is for the Pakistani people to determine whether or not they are happy and believe his return is good for Pakistan."

The official also rejected as incorrect media reports that the US Ambassador to Saudi Arabia facilitated the talks between Sharif and the Pakistan Government.

"This is a matter among Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Sharif. The US plays no part," the Dawn quoted the official, as saying.

In Washington, Sharif's return is being observed with caution.

While US officials avoid taking a position on the development, experts appearing on various media outlets say that the US Administration would first want to see how Sharif plans to deal with the terrorists operating along the Pak-Afghan border.

ANI