WASHINGTON, Oct 26: The United States on Tuesday welcomed 'continued dialogue' between Pakistan and India on the Kashmir issue and said it would "encourage all interested parties" to take a 'careful' look at any proposal "that could advance peace in the region".

Asked to comment on President General Pervez Musharraf's fresh proposals to settle the longstanding dispute, a State Department official said: "We welcome and encourage continued dialogue between Pakistan and India on Kashmir issue."

Talking to APP, the official said: "We encourage all interested parties to take a careful look at any proposal which could advance peace in the region, which engage(s) their own publics."