A group of six hardline Islamist parties in Pakistan has forged a regional alliance with the country's main pro-military party to share power in the south-western province of Baluchistan.

The deal puts the Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal, or MMA, in power in both Baluchistan and the North Western Frontier Province - the two areas that border Afghanistan.

There is much anger towards the US in the region

The MMA's candidate, Jamal Shah Kakar, has been named as speaker of the newly elected Baluchistan assembly, as part of its deal with the pro-military Pakistan Muslim League - Quaid, or PML-Q.

MMA provincial leader Maulana Mohammad Khan Sheerani told reporters: "We made this agreement in the interests of the people of Baluchistan and we have agreed to accept their PML-Q chief minister."

Alcohol ban

In return, the MMA will support its ally's candidate as chief minister of the province in an assembly vote scheduled for Tuesday.

MMA parliamentary leader Maulvi Abdul Wasay said one of the top items on their agenda is a complete ban on alcohol to apply to non-Muslim minorities, who are usually exempt from alcohol bans applied to Muslims

He added that the agreement also includes a commitment to direct 100 percent of foreign loans or grants for Baluchistan's natural resource development to the provincial administration.

The MMA is opposed to the presence of US troops carrying out anti-terrorism operations in Pakistan.

The PML-Q now rules Pakistan at the national level.

Its candidate, Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali, was elected prime minister recently.

However, analysts believe it puts the MMA, in a strong position along the Pakistan-Afghan border.