Pat Dollard

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ISLAMABAD (AFP) – A top US Senator on Wednesday said that Pakistan should not negotiate with Taliban or Al-Qaeda militants near the Afghan border and should limit peace talks to tribal elders.

Democratic senator Russ Feingold said during a visit to Pakistan that Islamabad’s new government should not enter negotiations with “those who want to kill Americans”.

The government launched talks with local Taliban militants soon after winning elections in February, amid concerns that US-backed Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf’s military approach was spawning more violence.

“The US will have no problems if your government deals with peaceful tribal leaders,” Feingold told a news conference in Islamabad when asked how he viewed the current peace talks.

“The US opposes talks with militants and those linked to Al-Qaeda and Taliban,” he said, adding: “We are not ready to negotiate with those who want to kill Americans or cause harm to America.”

“This is a critical time for Pakistan, its people and our relationship,” he said.

Pakistani authorities signed a peace deal with militants in the northwestern Swat Valley earlier this month and are in talks with pro-Taliban rebels in the semi-autonomous tribal districts bordering Afghanistan.

Top Pakistani Taliban warlord Baitullah Mehsud said at the weekend that despite the talks his fighters would continue “holy war” in Afghanistan, where tens of thousands of US and NATO troops are fighting the militants.

Mehsud has been accused by the previous government and the US Central Intelligence Agency of masterminding the slaying of former premier Benazir Bhutto.

Feingold meanwhile called for the immediate restoration of top judges deposed by Musharraf under a state of emergency in November, when it appeared that the Supreme Court was about to overturn his re-election as president.

“The judges should be immediately restored as it is an important issue for Pakistan,” Feingold said.

Pakistan’s new ruling coalition has been split over how to restore the judges, who could pose a fresh threat to Musharraf’s rule if they get their jobs back.

“I had meetings with a number of people including (former chief justice) Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry on the issue of illegal removal of judges but not even a single person told me that they did anything wrong,” he added.

Asked how he viewed President Musharraf’s future, he said it was a matter for the people of Pakistan and elected representatives to take a decision about his future.

“But I think the US made a mistake in relying too much on a person who came to power through undemocratic means,” he said without naming President Musharraf.