Pakistan welcomed on Wednesday comments by India's prime minister that New Delhi would meet its neighbor “more than half way” if it cracked down on militants. India put a pause on the slow-moving peace talks after tension sharply rose between the two nuclear-armed neighbors following November attacks on the Indian financial capital of Mumbai which New Delhi blamed on Pakistan-based militants. Buoyed by a resounding victory in last month's elections, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Tuesday urged Pakistan to bring militants, including perpetrators of Mumbai attacks, to justice and said New Delhi was willing to meet Pakistan “more than half way” if it showed resolve for peace. Pakistan said the two old rivals, which have fought three wars since their independence in 1947, should resume dialogue for the sake of regional stability. “We welcome any step that leads to resumption of result-oriented peace process between our two countries,” foreign ministry spokesman Abdul Basit said. “We agree with India that in order to have peace between our two countries and for a viable stability for our region, it is absolutely important that our two countries talk to each other and resolve our bilateral issues peacefully.” India last week said it wanted to normalize relations with Pakistan but reacted angrily to the release of the founder of Lashkar-e-Taiba militant group it blamed for the Mumabi attacks by Pakistan's Supreme Court. Pakistani officials say they will request the court to review its decision.
