Washington, Feb 23 (IANS) The United States has welcomed the India-Pakistan foreign secretary level talks as a "significant breakthrough" and hoped it would begin the process of re-establishing the composite dialogue stalled since the Mumbai terror attacks.

"We welcome very much the fact that these talks are taking place," Robert O. Blake, Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs, said in an interview with BBC World News Monday.

"I think this is a significant breakthrough, and I really want to commend both the Indians and the Pakistanis for arranging these talks."

Noting that the talks had been suspended as a result of the November 2008 bombings in Mumbai, Blake said: "We think this is a very valuable opportunity for both of these countries to explore the important issues on their agenda."

It's also an opportunity "to think about ways that they can begin the process of re-establishing the composite dialogue that they suspended and again, normalise relations," he said.

"As you know, a great deal of progress was made between 2004 and 2007. I think we and the Indians and the Pakistanis themselves hope that that progress can be re-established," Blake said.