India, Pakistan say formal peace talks will resume soon

NEW DELHI/ISLAMABAD - India and Pakistan have agreed to resume formal peace talks that were broken off by New Delhi after the 2008 Mumbai attacks, with Pakistan saying on Thursday discussions between the nuclear-armed rivals would start before July.

Both nations have been under pressure from the United States to resolve contentious issues, including concerns about militant violence and the disputed territory of Kashmir. Their rivalry spills over into Afghanistan, complicating peace efforts there.

A senior Indian government official said the decision to return to talks was made at a meeting between the two countries' top diplomats in Bhutan's capital, Thimphu, on the margins of a regional conference.