Afghan President Hamid Karzai on Wednesday applauded nuclear rivals India and Pakistan's recent breakthrough in fixing dialogue to resolve bilateral issues as very positive and courageous.
"The recent talks held between Pakistan and India at the fringes of the Saarc summit in Islamabad represent a courageous step by leaders of the two countries on the path of peace and good neighbourly relations in the region," Karzai said in a statement.
The South Asian Association for Regional Co-operation (Saarc) summit, which ended on Tuesday, saw the first meeting between Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf and Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee, since they came to the brink of their fourth war in 2002.
The two leaders also agreed to reopen talks on the divisive issue of Kashmir, which has dragged on for more than 56 years.
Karzai said he was encouraged by the fact that the two sides would hold bilateral talks in February.