THIMPHU, Bhutan (Reuters) - The prime ministers of India and Pakistan held their first meeting in nine months Thursday, aiming to end a diplomatic stalemate since the 2008 Mumbai attacks, although hopes of a breakthrough remain muted.
Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his Pakistani counterpart Yousuf Raza Gilani met on the sidelines of a summit of South Asian leaders in Bhutan's capital, officials said.
The meeting is seen as important for efforts to prevent any further slide in ties between the nuclear-armed rivals who have fought three wars since independence from Britain in 1947.
A positive outcome could help reduce tensions between the two countries, whose rivalry spills over into Afghanistan and complicates U.S.-backed efforts to stabilise the region.
"United States always welcomes dialogue ... So we really commend the two prime ministers for their initiatives and we hope that there will be a positive outcome," Robert Blake, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State, told reporters in Thimphu.
(Reporting by Krittivas Mukherjee)
