New Delhi: Egypt on May 4 welcomed the "positive" initiative taken by India and Pakistan on return of Ambassadors and expressed the hope that this will be the beginning of more constructive steps between the two countries.

"Given Egypt's close relations with the two countries, it hopes that this step will constitute the beginning of more constructive steps and mark a new phase of clearing tensions in the interest of the two countries to achieve security and stability in this important region of the world," Foreign Minister Ahmed Maher said, according to a statement received from Cairo.

PTI