The leaders of India and Pakistan met today for the first time in more than two years as they sought to cast aside the enmity that took their nuclear-armed countries to the brink of war in 2002.
Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee and Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf talked for an hour and five minutes on the sidelines of a South Asia summit, according to Pakistan's Information Minister Sheikh Rashid.
"Detailed discussions were held," he said. "The meeting was held in a good atmosphere."
Pakistani state television showed the two men seated about a metre apart facing forwards, turning to chat to each other for the benefit of the cameras before the meeting got under way properly.
Speaking before the meeting, Mr Vajpayee, who is paying his first visit to Pakistan in almost five years, called for talks between the neighbours to resolve disputes that have plagued relations since independence from Britain in 1947.
Diplomats call Mr Vajpayee's meeting with Mr Musharraf a step in the process of rebuilding relations and a chance for both men to advance a shaky peace process.