THE shared tragedy confronting India and Pakistan in disputed Kashmir could pay dividends for the fragile peace process, experts said yesterday after a massive earthquake left thousands dead there.

Pakistan’s president said today that talks with his Indian counterpart were more successful than he expected, but warned that settling the dispute over Kashmir would take a long time.

The leaders of India and Pakistan held ‘‘frank and constructive’’ talks about nuclear safeguards, the fighting in Kashmir and freer trade during their first formal talks in two years today.