Describing the meeting between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Pakistan President Asif Ali Zarari in Russia as "productive", the White House says that dialogue is essential to reduce "bilateral tensions" and stabilise the region.
"We are glad to hear the (two) leaders had a productive meeting in Russia and hope that they will continue to talk and meet regularly," White House National Security Council spokesman Mike Hammer told PTI.
Singh and Zardari met on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Russia for the first time after the Mumbai terror attacks which killed 183 people and stalled the composite dialogue process.
"The (Obama) Administration welcomes dialogue between the leaders of India and Pakistan, which we feel is essential to reducing bilateral tensions," Hammer said.
Announcing his new Af-Pak policy, US President Barack Obama on March 27 stressed on the need to engage both India and Pakistan in constructive diplomacy so as to reduce the tension between the two countries.
In the aftermath of the Mumbai terrorist attacks, India had stopped peace dialogue with Pakistan.
{{/usCountry}}In the aftermath of the Mumbai terrorist attacks, India had stopped peace dialogue with Pakistan.
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