UN Secretary General Kofi Annan's spokesman:
"He believes that a meeting now at the highest level would further ease the tensions in the region and facilitate resumption of a sustained dialogue which is very much in the long-term interests of both countries".
Expressing confidence that the dialogue would lead to "further" easing of tensions in the region, Annan said he was encouraged that Musharraf responded positively to Vajpayee's invitation. Annan, who recently visited South Asia, said he had consistently urged India and Pakistan to resume direct contacts to address outstanding bilateral and regional issues, including Kashmir.
China:
"I have taken note of the relevant report. Regarding the efforts by the Indian and Pakistani side to improve their relations, we express our welcome and appreciation," Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Zhu Bangzao told reporters when asked to comment on New Delhi's decision to invite Gen. Musharraf for talks.
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"It is our view that both India and Pakistan are major countries in South Asia. The improvement of ties between them not only conforms to the fundamental interests of the two countries but is also conducive to peace and stability in the South Asian subcontinent," the spokesman said at a bi-weekly news conference.
New Delhi's decision to initiate talks with Islamabad was also welcomed by senior Chinese analysts.
"It is a very welcome development," former Chinese Ambassador to India Cheng Ruisheng said.
"I hope India and Pakistan can sit down and talk so as to resolve all outstanding problems," Chen, a senior advisor to the China Institute of International studies, a Beijing-based think-tank, said.
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Russia:
"This could be seen in the context of India's recent efforts to ease the tension and create an atmosphere of trust in bilateral relations of the two key states of South Asia," the Russian foreign ministry said today.
The foreign ministry, in a statement, expressed the hope that Indo-Pak dialogue would resume early "in the spirit of the Simla accord and Lahore declaration.
Russia, which has consistently supported India's stand on Kashmir, always declined Islamabad's request to mediate on the issue saying it should be decided through a bilateral political dialogue.
Bangladesh:
Bangladesh has described as "a step in the right direction" India's decision to invite Pakistan military ruler general Pervez Musharraf for talks and expressed the hope that the two sides would be able to resolve their problems through discussions.
"It is a welcome development and a step in the right direction," official news agency BSS quoted a foreign ministry spokesman as saying.
