Former Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf said Thursday he may delay his planned homecoming later this month, after a warning from the government that he would be arrested if he returned.

During a visit to London, Mr. Musharraf said he is awaiting recommendations from his All Pakistan Muslim League party. He said party leaders are looking into the implications of his return in light of a serious political crisis brewing in Pakistan.

Earlier this month, Mr. Musharraf told supporters in Karachi by telephone that he would return between January 27 and January 30 to take part in future general elections. But he faces a threat of arrest in Pakistan for alleged involvement in the 2007 assassination of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto.

The former president, who left the country in 2008 to avoid prosecution, blamed the Pakistani Taliban for the Bhutto attack, but prosecutors have since said he played a role himself.

In Washington Thursday, the U.S. State Department said that Mr. Musharraf's possible arrest if he returns home is Pakistan's internal matter and denied that the former president's team sent a letter requesting a meeting with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

State Department Spokeswoman Victoria Nuland noted that the United States wants a broad based relationship with Pakistan that includes working together on security, development and economic issues.