Clinton welcomes dialogue between India and Pakistan

US secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Wednesday welcomed dialogue between India and Pakistan, but said the scope and character of such a dialogue needs to be decided by the leaders of the two countries.

"We believe that India and Pakistan actually face a number of common challenges, and we welcome a dialogue between them," Clinton told a gathering if US and Indian corporate leadership on the occasion of 34th anniversary celebration of the US-India Business Council.

"As we have said before, the pace, scope and character of that dialogue is something that Indian and Pakistani leaders will decide on their own terms and in their own time," Clinton said, agreeing with New Delhi's stand in this regard.

"But as Pakistan now works to take on the challenge of terrorists in its own country, I am confident that India as well as the United States will support those efforts," Clinton said.

Her comments came a day after prime minister Manmohan Singh and Pakistan president Asif Ali Zardari met for the first time since the Mumbai terror attacks. During the meeting, Singh had bluntly told Zardari to take action to stop terrorism against India emanating from his country's soil.

The secretary of State also appreciated India's role in Afghanistan.

"We have a common interest in creating a stable, peaceful Afghanistan, where India is already providing USD 1.2 billion in assistance to facilitate reconstruction efforts. United States is committed to the task ahead in Afghanistan, and I hope India will continue its efforts there as well," Clinton said.