WASHINGTON, Nov 1: The United States hopes that this week’s exchange of peace proposals between India and Pakistan will lead to the resumption of a dialogue on all issues, including Kashmir.

Pakistan’s response to the Indian proposals was “positive” and “we hope that the process will create a momentum towards peace,” State Department spokesman Richard Boucher told a briefing on Friday.

The process, however, “needs to result in talks, in a dialogue that includes all the issues, including Kashmir,” he added.

Mr Boucher said India and Pakistan needed to lay “a foundation” to work together as only such a foundation “can lead to eventual resolution of more difficult and bigger issues.”

“We were also encouraged to see that Pakistan did come back with a very positive response to the proposals” India had sent last week, he added.

“We think (the response goes) in the right direction of strengthening people-to-people ties and expanding links. (It’s a) move towards a more normal relationship between the people of India and the people of Pakistan.”

Mr Boucher said India and Pakistan had now agreed to hold another round of civil aviation talks for restoring their air links.

Separately, the State Department expressed concern over the arrest of ARD president and PML-N acting president Javed Hashmi. “We are aware of this development and understand that Hashmi has been charged with sedition,” an official said.

“We hope that Javed Hashmi is treated with due regard to his rights and the “matter is handled in a fair and transparent manner”.