Warming Relations Between India and Pakistan

India is proposing a peace treaty that would formally end the state of war that exists between India and Pakistan. The two countries have occasionally fought for control over Jammu and Kashmir. Both have sought and obtained nuclear weapons programs in the course of their conflict as well.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh appeared to be proposing a comprehensive accord touching on many issues, including the dispute over the Himalayan region of Kashmir.

''I am convinced we can move forward, if all concerned are willing to accept the ground realities; if all concerned take a long view of history and our destiny," Singh said at a ceremony starting a new bus service between India and Pakistan.

Pakistan's foreign ministry welcomed the overture, but stressed the need for taking ''bold and sincere steps" to resolve Kashmir, which is divided between the two neighbors.

In Islamabad, Pakistan welcomed Singh's overture yesterday but stressed there would be little movement if the Kashmir issue was not resolved.

Kashmir is the root of the tension in the region, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Tasnim Aslam said, calling on India to take ''bold and sincere steps to resolve the issue."

Both countries are involved in the War on Terror and resolving the conflict between the two would be a significiant step in stabilizing South Asia.