Pakistan agreed yesterday to restore strict Islamist law in the Swat valley to pacify a revolt by Taliban militants, and a suspected US drone fired missiles in the region killing at least 26 people.

The decision on Islamic law is likely to draw criticism from the United States and other Western powers fearful that Pakistan is playing into the hands of religious conservatives who sympathize with the Taliban and Al-Qaida.

The agreement was reached at talks between Islamists and officials of the North West Frontier Province (NWFP) government in Peshawar yesterday.