US providing encouragement for Indo-Pak talks

Ahead of the meeting between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf, the United States has expressed hope that the two countries can find a basis to resume talks.

Talking of the movement in Indo-Pak relations, US Assistant Secretary of State for South Asia Richard Boucher praised the statesmanship shown by the leaders of the two countries and referred to the current setback by way of the Mumbai blasts.

 "We hope they can find a basis to resume talks," the senior administration official told students at the School of Advanced International Studies of the John Hopkins University.

He stressed that the US role is not a direct one, but of providing constant encouragement to the two sides.

Singh and Musharraf are slated to meet tomorrow on the sidelines of the NAM Summit in Havana.