U.S. hopes Feb. 25 talks will revive composite dialogue

The Foreign Secretary-level meeting between India and Pakistan on February 25 is a significant breakthrough between the two South Asian neighbours, a top Obama Administration official has said.

"We welcome very much the fact that these talks are taking place. I think this is a significant breakthrough, and I really want to commend both the Indians and the Pakistanis for arranging these talks," Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia Robert Blake said in an interview to the BBC, according to a transcript released by the State Department.

"Talks have been suspended for some time as a result of the November 2008 bombings in Mumbai, so we think this is a very valuable opportunity for both of these countries to explore the important issues on their agenda, but also to think about ways that they can begin the process of re-establishing the composite dialogue that they suspended and again, normalise relations," Mr. Blake said in response to a question about the February 25 meeting between the Foreign Secretaries of India and Pakistan.

"As you know, a great deal of progress was made between 2004 and 2007. I think we and the Indians and the Pakistanis themselves hope that that progress can be re-established," Mr. Blake said.
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