WASHINGTON, Feb 19: The United States on Thursday welcomed the positive outcome of the Islamabad talks and hoped that it would lead to a lasting peace between India and Pakistan.

The US Statement Department also noted that South Asia's two nuclear states had agreed to a roadmap for peace that will start with high-level talks in May or June. The deal was announced on Wednesday at the end of three days of talks in Islamabad - the first such talks in three years.

"We very much welcome the outcome of the first round of talks as part of a comprehensive dialogue between India and Pakistan," State Department spokesman Richard Boucher told journalists here.

He said the United States was pleased to note that the two parties came out with a roadmap for future discussions and were committed to increasing their engagement.

The United States has supported moves to ease tensions between the two countries, and the State Department said the improvement was particularly encouraging because only two years ago the two rival nations were on the brink of a war.

But the US administration, however, has made it clear that it does not want to play the role of the mediator and would encourage India and Pakistan to continue the peace process on their own.

"The United States has consistently supported dialogue between India and Pakistan since the beginning of this (the Bush) administration. It's something US officials have regularly discussed with leaders from both countries," said Mr Boucher.

"We encourage both sides to maintain the momentum of these positive developments by taking further steps now to reduce tensions in the region," he added.

Asked to comment on President Musharraf's appeal to clerics to help him fight extremists, the US spokesman reminded the reporter that the United States has been a strong supporter of Pakistan.