WASHINGTON - The United States has backed the ongoing talks between Pakistan and India, saying its in their self-interest and larger US interest to reduce tensions through dialogue. Just as weve said many, many times, we appreciate and certainly endorse increasing dialogue between Pakistan and India, State Department spokesman Phillip Crowley informed the daily news briefing on other day when asked about the talks in Islamabad. It is in their self-interest and our larger interest to see dialogue that can help to resolve tensions that exist between the two countries, he added. The US comments came as Pakistans Interior Minister Rehman Malik met his Indian counterpart Chidambaram in the wake of parleys between foreign secretaries of the two countries this week in Islam-abad. Chidambaram, the first Indian minister to visit Pakistan since Mumbai attacks, is participating in the SAARC home ministers conference in Islamabad Saturday. Pakistans Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir and his Indian counterpart Nirupama Rao met on Thursday to prepare the ground for next months talks in Islamabad between the foreign ministers of the two countries. Pakistan says talks with India must address all outstanding issues including the decades-old Kashmir dispute, while India insists on Pakistani action against militants linked to Mumbai attacks.