Pakistan and India today laid out an aggressive timetable for peace talks on a wide-range of topics, including Kashmir, nuclear safeguards, and terrorism.
A series of mid-level meetings will begin directly after the Indian elections in April, culminating in a summit in August between the two nations' foreign ministers.
"We do have a basic road map for a Pakistan-India peace process to which we have both agreed," Pakistani Foreign Secretary Riaz Khokhar said in Islamabad at the conclusion of the opening rounds of talks.
Even before the Indian elections, technical-level talks will be held on transport links and other issues, Mr Khokhar said after a face-to-face meeting with his Indian counterpart, Shashank, who goes by only one name.
The two foreign secretaries - the chief bureaucrats dealing with foreign policy - will meet again in May or June, Mr Khokhar said. He urged patience but expressed optimism that the talks would yield results. "We feel that the atmosphere is much better," he said. "There is a realisation on both sides that war is not an option."
In New Delhi, Foreign Ministry spokesman Navtej Sarna said both sides had a "sincere desire to discuss and arrive at a peaceful settlement of all bilateral issues, including Jammu and Kashmir."
The exact dates and locations for future talks have yet to be worked out.
Pakistan and India nearly went to war in 2002, following an attack on India's parliament that New Delhi blamed on Islamic militants and Pakistan's intelligence agency. Pakistan denied the charges. A war, which would have been the first between nuclear-armed rivals, was averted after intense international mediation.
Pakistani President General Pervez Musharraf announced the breakthrough in a speech at a conference of Islamic clerics. He told them he would never sell out the Kashmiri people, but that a peaceful solution was a must.
"I am hopeful that a solution for Kashmir, in accordance with the wishes of Kahsmiris, will be found," he said. "If there is no solution according to the wishes of Kashmiris then no solution will be found."
The EU's External Relations Commissioner Chris Patten, who was due in Islamabad today with an EU troika also containing Irish Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Brian Cowen, said in Kabul he was delighted the talks had started, but urged restraint.
"I think if we're sensible, we won't get too excited and won't start expecting early or substantial breakthroughs. I think this is going to be a long process, the negotiators are dealing with some terribly difficult issues."