Nawaz’s cooked-up return to Pakistan S. Saeed

ISLAMABAD: To counter the European Union, especially the Britain, United States had to intervene at the highest levels of Pakistan and Saudi governments to ensure that Nawaz Sharif does not disrupt the negotiated power deal between Benazir Bhutto and Gen. Musharraf, learned The Frontier Post on good authority.

Highly placed diplomatic and political sources confirmed that following the August 23rd verdict of the Supreme Court to allow Nawaz Sharif to return to Pakistan, Americans had to activate their channels to block Nawaz Sharif’s entry into a newly controlled set-up of Pakistani politics.

Sources wishing anonymity revealed that Bush administration was tipped that EU and especially its closest partner in war on terrorism, Britain is in favour of launching Nawaz Sharif into Pakistani politics to disrupt the American stated and covert intentions of not only continuing but winning the war on terrorism through Musharraf by stabilizing him in power.

Deal between Gen. Musharraf and Benazir Bhutto has already been sealed, added the highly placed sources in Washington. Entry of Nawaz Sharif at this critical juncture would have jolted the American plans and finally they had to send in under secretary of state for the region Richard Boucher to convey a clear message to Gen. Musharraf and especially to his allies like Chaudhary Shujaat Hussain that toying with their plans might lead to NATO’s invasion of Pakistani tribal areas.

[for more click on the heading]