Islamabad, Sep 15 : The US has cleverly used former premier Nawaz Sharif's exile to kill two birds with one stone - it sowed a seed of distrust between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, and smoothened the return of Benazir Bhutto by excluding her most potential political threat.

Although Washington constantly denies having played any role in what it publicly terms the internal affairs of Pakistan, but reports of the American involvement in both the affairs show no signs of subsidimg.

In the case of Benazir-Musharraf future cooperation, both the Presidency and the Pakistan People's Party informally agreed to be facing US pressure to strike a deal for future cooperation.

PML-Q chief Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain had once even said that the Westerners (Goras) are pressing for the Benazir-Musharraf deal to which the PML-Q is opposed tooth and nail.

In the case of Sharif's exile, some Middle Eastern countries had seriously tried to blackout the event that was being broadcast by private Pakistani television channels.

A journalist in one of these countries was clearly told by the local authorities that they are under pressure from Washington to do this.

Former Prime Minister Sharif initially wanted to come to Islamabad after seven years of exile via Dubai, but changed his mind after being warned that the Dubai authorities might divert him to Riyadh because of American pressure.

But the way the Saudi Government responded to Sharif's decision to return kept everybody wondering.

Believing in silent diplomacy and enjoying extremely good relations with Pakistan and its people, Riyadh not only sent its intelligence chief to Islamabad, but also asked it to re-exile Sharif as soon as he lands.

On the very day when Sharif was exiled, Chaudhry Shujaat admitted in a Geo News talk show that not only he, but Musharraf was also of the view to allow Sharif's entry into Pakistan.

Shujaat, however, disclosed that still the former premier was exiled because of Saudi rulers' insistence that Sharif should be deported back to Riyadh.

Washington continues to deny playing any role in Nawaz Sharif's exile.

US Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte told reporters that the deportation of Sharif was "an internal Pakistani political and legal matter, and it is for the government, people and authorities of Pakistan to decide".

Against this apparent distance from the internal affairs of Pakistan, the sources said that both Richard Boucher and Negroponte even during their latest visits had discussed with authorities here the issue of Bhutto's deal with Musharraf and the forced exile of Sharif.

Analysts believe here that ensuring the exile of Nawaz Sharif, the Americans on one side has smoothened the return of Benazir Bhutto, who would now find an open political field upon her arrival to benefit as much as is possible for her.

But through Nawaz Sharif's exile manoeuvre the Americans, it is believed, have tried to dent the unprecedented relationship between the governments and the people of Pakistan and Saudi Arabia.

Sharif's case is first-ever shadow on the cemented relations between the two countries. Now it depends on both the countries and their people if they would allow any evil design to create a rift between them.