WASHINGTON, Sept 17: The United States on Sunday welcomed the Musharraf-Singh talks saying that meetings like this were a ‘good investment’ in the long-term resolution of the differences between the two countries.

President Musharraf, who is now in New York to attend the UN General Assembly, has described the meeting as a victory for the India-Pakistan peace process. “One should not term the outcome as a victory or defeat. It is a victory for the peace process,” he said.

A State Department official, when contacted by Dawn said: “We are supportive of these talks and endorse any effort for dialogue regarding Kashmir.” He said the US encourages such exchanges and hopes that this would lead to a resolution of the differences between the two countries through dialogue as opposed to violence.

“Discussions like this ease tensions and help create a dialogue to redress the issues,” he said.