Tirana (Albania): India's decision to resume diplomatic and air links with Pakistan is "very, very promising", US Secretary of State Colin Powell said on May 2.

"I am very pleased with developments on the sub-continent over the last several weeks," Powell said at a press conference during a brief visit to Albania.

"All this is very, very promising at a time when people were beginning to wonder whether or not they were going back to the potential for conflict," Powell said.

"I congratulate leaders of both sides on these first steps -- that are just that, first steps on the way to finding a way forward."

Agencies