ISLAMABAD, May 10 (IslamOnline.net & News Agencies) - Pakistan Saturday, May 10, mulled the appointment of a high commissioner to India after accepting New Delhi's nomination of its chief diplomat for Islamabad, part of the gathering momentum towards peace between the arch-rivals.

"Pakistan will soon nominate its high commissioner for New Delhi and several names are under consideration," Foreign Minister Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri told reporters in the port city of Karachi before leaving for New York for a week-long trip to United States, reported Agence France-Presse (AFP).

The top troubleshooter from the State Department Thursday visited Islamabad and held talks with Pakistani leaders as part of his mission to boost prospects for the early resumption of dialogue between the two neighbors.

Kasuri said he was optimistic things were moving in the right direction. "The short time taken by Pakistan to approve India's nomination of its high commissioner is yet another clear sign of Islamabad's keen interest in moving forward to sustain the recent peace moves," a senior government official said.

The government consented late Friday to the appointment of Shiv Shankar Menon as the head the Indian mission in Islamabad, to fill the vacuum left when India withdrew its ambassador about a year and half ago.

Official sources said the high commissioners, or ambassadors, of the nuclear-armed neighbors are expected to take up their crucial posts some time next week, upgrading the diplomatic channel to help hasten the movement towards resuming talks.

U.S. Envoy Optimistic

U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage, after talks with Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee in New Delhi Saturday, reiterated that he was cautiously optimistic India and Pakistan were on a path to normalize relations.

Armitage has concluded the South Asia tour by saying he is optimistic of peace between India and Pakistan. Speaking after meeting Vajpayee he said he would like to see both countries live in peace and harmony, reported the BBC online news service.

Pakistani leaders insist the only way to normalize perpetually-strained relations between the South Asian nations is to engage in a comprehensive and well-structured dialogue process to address the whole gambit of issues - including the seemingly intractable dispute over Kashmir.

Former Foreign Secretary Tanvir Ahmed said the prompt Pakistani action in approving Menon's appointment showed yet another gesture of goodwill by Islamabad.

Diplomats on both sides have traditionally worked under considerable pressure in each others' capitals due to the ripple effect of unending mutual animosity. Tit for tat expulsions have been common.

The countries began peace moves after a surprise acceptance by Vajpayee on April 18 of Pakistan's long-offered invitation for talks.

Prime Minister Zafarullah Jamali responded on April 28 with an unprecedented phone call to Vajpayee and followed it up with a formal invitation to the Indian leader to visit Pakistan for talks.

The conciliatory process moved forward when, days later, Vajpayee announced India would restore full diplomatic ties. Jamali subsequently announced six confidence building measures including the exchange of high commissioners, revival of sports ties and bus, air and train links.

The picturesque Himalayan region of Kashmir split between the two countries and claimed in full by both has caused two of the three wars between the neighbors since independence and is widely seen as a potential flashpoint for a nuclear conflict.

Tens of thousands of people have been killed in Kashmir since 1989 in violence linked to separatist insurgency in India's only Muslim majority state.