London, Oct 23: Britain welcomed a raft of new measures from New Delhi aimed at improving India's troubled relations with neighbour Pakistan.
"I warmly welcome the statement," British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said in a press release after the unprecedented gesture by Foreign Minister Yashwant Sinha.
"Such steps will help to build greater confidence and trust between India and Pakistan," Straw said yesterday. "I very much hope that both governments will continue to work together towards normalising their relations and resolving their differences, including on Kashmir," he said.
Sinha yesterday held out a new olive branch to Pakistan which included the resumption of full sporting ties, humanitarian assistance, increased transport links and easing of cross-border movement. The move was welcomed by Islamabad, which said it would respond positively despite disappointment the offers did not extend to direct dialogue between the two countries over the Kashmir issue. Bureau Report