(AFP) The government will consider joining a United Nations peacekeeping mission in Afghanistan if asked to do so, Defence Minister Najib Razak told a top US military officer today.

Malaysia's participation would be conditional on cabinet approval and a request from the UN, Najib said after meeting Admiral Dennis Blair, commander in chief of the US Pacific Command.

"Sure Malaysia will play a positive role if the UN makes such a decision," he told reporters, noting that Blair had asked whether Malaysia was willing to provide troops. Blair arrived yesterday for a two-day visit to discuss military operations against terrorism with top Malaysian security officers.

The government of Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad has condemned the September 11 terror attacks on the US, but has protested against the retaliatory military campaign in Afghanistan.

Safety as risk

Asked if he thought it was timely to place UN troops in Afghanistan, Najib said the situation in the country was "fluid", which could put the lives of UN troops at risk.

"We will not send peacekeepers if their safety is at risk. That is one of the paramount principles UN has adhered to.

"If the situation is not right for peacekeepers to be deployed they will not be deployed," he said.

But if conditions suited a UN role, the world body should intervene to ensure security to end the suffering of the Afghan people, he said.

Malaysian troops have served in a variety of peacekeeping missions in the past decade, including Bosnia and Somalia.