The international community has hailed a breakthrough between nuclear powers India and Pakistan after their decision to reopen dialogue, two years after coming to the brink of their fourth war.
The United States, which has been active in pushing the neighbours to reconcile since the spectre of a nuclear holocaust over South Asia in 2002, praised the statesmanship of both countries' leaders.
"We have seen them create a momentum. We have seen what we would call acts of statesmanship," State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said Tuesday.
Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee and Pakistan's President Pervez Musharraf on Monday held their first talks since 2001 on the sidelines of a regional summit, producing a surprise agreement to reopen dialogue in February.
The formal talks would tackle disputes including Kashmir, the cause of their 56-year tensions and two of their three wars.
Secretary of State Colin Powell echoed Musharraf's description of the deal as "historic."
"I think it was a historic meeting that has taken place and opened new opportunities for achieving peace in that part of the world," said Powell, who has undertaken several shuttle-diplomacy trips between Islamabad and New Delhi.
At the United Nations, Secretary General Kofi Annan said the breakthrough would benefit all of South Asia, the region of 1.4 billion largely poor people which has been held hostage to the disputes between its giants.
"I think it is wonderful news, what is coming out of Islamabad," Annan told reporters in New York.
"I am extremely happy that the talks are taking place and I am sure Prime Minister Vajpayee and President Musharraf will find the statesmanship and the leadership and the wisdom to move the process forward," he said.
"I am really excited with the developments and I applaud the two leaders for the actions that they have taken."
European Commission president Romano Prodi called the decision to return to the negotiating table "proof of their commitment to further strengthen the process of confidence building and to resolve outstanding bilateral issues."
Australia's Foreign Minister Alexander Downer singled out Vajpayee and Musharraf for their efforts.
"The statesmanship displayed by both leaders in pursuit of peace is worthy of congratulations and praise," he said in a statement.
Germany said it hoped "the comprehensive dialogue strived for will lead to a lasting normalisation of relations between the two neighbouring countries."
"This would be not only a great opportunity for India and Pakistan but would also have a stabilising effect on the entire region," its foreign ministry said.
Canada's Foreign Minister Bill Graham welcomed the breakthrough "as an important step toward finding a peaceful solution to their outstanding issues."
Denmark said the international community needed to support the burgeoning peace process.
"It is clear we have to do what we can to support the process of reconciliation underway between the two nuclear powers, India and Pakistan," Danish Foreign Minister Per Stig Moeller was quoted as saying.
Japan noted "important improvement to the two countries' relations and stability of the region." "We hope that such dialogue will continue and improvement of their relations will advance further," Foreign Minister Yoriko Kawaguchi said in a statement.
The foreign secretaries of India and Pakistan are expected to conduct the talks in February. No venue has been decided, nor has a timetable for the dialogue's conclusion been set.
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