Wednesday, April 20 2005 20:42 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Ranchi: Britain supports the ongoing peace process between India and Pakistan and hailed the success of the recent dialogue between the two countries' heads of state, the British High Commissioner to India, Sir Michael Arthur, today (Apr 20, 2005) said.

''We will be very supportive,'' Sir Arthur said when his comment was sought on the recently concluded Indo-Pak dialogue in New Delhi.

The talks, he said, had started during the Vajpayee regime and now had been taken forward by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh who had a successful talks with the Pakistan President Pervez Musharaf.

Referring to the launching of Srinagar-Muzaffarabad bus service, Sir Arthur said that he was delighted at the people's response and felt that more such routes would help people-to-people contact.

On Britain's opinion on a permanent solution between the countries, the High Commissioner said a third country ought not say anything on it.

Sir Arthur, who is on a two-day visit to Jharkhand met Governor Syed Sibtey Razi and Chief Minister Arjun Munda and discussed possible areas of cooperation including trade, education and health in the State.