Pakistan's President Pervez Musharraf has told tribal chiefs that he would pull troops out of a restive region on the Afghan border if they expelled foreign militants and ended their militancy.

Musharraf, speaking to a Jirga or council of tribal elders in the northwestern city of Peshawar, also promised development projects provided peace was maintained, the state-run Associated Press of Pakistan said.

"I am ready to sanction any mega project (in the region) if the people cooperate with the government in its endeavour to purge their areas from the elements of terror and extremism," he said on Wednesday.

He called upon the council to help frustrate terrorism and extremism in their areas and maintain peace for development, integrity and solidarity of the country.

Musharraf urged the tribal elders "to curb terrorism and extremism through the traditional Jirga system to pave the way for the federal government to minimise the deployment of the security forces and consequently withdraw them from the tribal areas," the news agency said.

He said foreign terrorists were using "our soil for the fulfilment of their nefarious designs and putting them (tribesmen) in trouble and danger."

"I assure you that these foreigners are not your friends and they are here to fulfil their own agenda which has no concern with Islam," he said.

President Musharraf, a key ally in the US-led "war on terror", last month warned foreign insurgents to leave the tribal belt or be killed.