Friday, September 2 2005 13:57 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Washington: The United States yesterday (Sept 1, 2005) welcomed groundbreaking discussions between Israel and Pakistan, describing the meetings as a "positive development."

"We have encouraged countries around the world that do not have diplomatic relations with Israel to establish diplomatic relations and to begin building relationships of trust, based on mutual respect and for sovereignty and transparency," State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said.

He declined to discuss Pakistan's call for Israel to allow the creation of a Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital.

"In terms of the way ahead in developing a potential relationship between Israel and Pakistan, that is for Israel and Pakistan to decide," McCormack said.