Musharraf returns from Saudi, suspense over Sharif

President Pervez Musharraf returned on Wednesday from a visit to Saudi Arabia that had sparked speculation whether he would reach out to former prime minister Nawaz Sharif or seek to extend his exile there.

The extent of Musharraf's political isolation since he declared emergency rule on November 3 has become so evident that many political analysts believe his aim in going to Saudi Arabia was to engage Sharif, who has rebuffed him several times.

Musharraf's chances of a deal with Benazir Bhutto, another former prime minister, but one he had allowed to return home last month, have receded since the imposition of an emergency as she doubts whether elections set for January 8 will be fair.

Western governments fear that stifling democracy any longer could play into the hands of Islamist militants threatening to destabilise nuclear-armed Pakistan. While critical of Musharraf's imposition of the emergency, the United States appeared to be giving Musharraf space to put things right. "He has done more for democracy in Pakistan than any modern leader has. Are we happy with the emergency rule? No we're not," President George W. Bush told ABC News in a interview overnight. "Do I understand how important he is in fighting extremists and radicals? I do. And do I believe that he's going to end up getting Pakistan back on the road to democracy? I certainly hope so."

While it appeared unlikely that General Musharraf would have had any direct contact with Sharif, who he deposed in 1999, intermediaries could have been used.

Lieutenant General Nadeem Taj, the head of the Inter-Services Intelligence Directorate, Pakistan's premier spy agency, stayed behind in Saudi Arabia and was returning separately.