United Nations: United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan has hoped that sustained dialogue between India and Pakistan would lead to peaceful resolution of all outstanding issues, including Jammu and Kashmir.

In a brief reference to the subcontinent in his report to the General Assembly, Annan noted that the relations between India and Pakistan have improved.

In May, they announced the appointment of High Commissioner to each other's capitals, restoration of rail, road and air links and other confidence-building measures, he recalled.

"I hope that those measures will lead to the resumption of sustained dialogue and to real progress towards a peaceful settlement of the outstanding problems between the two neighbours, including over Jammu and Kashmir," he said.

Referring to Nepal, he said despite a ceasefire and several rounds of talks between the Nepalese government and the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist), "the emerging peace process remains fragile". The UN, he stressed, is prepared to provide assistance to strengthen the process, including in the area of human rights.

The UN agencies, he said, have reoriented humanitarian, reconstruction and development assistance to better support the peace process.

In Sri Lanka, he said, the peace process suffered a setback when the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) suspended participation in negotiation with government in April. The UN, he said, supports the ongoing efforts of Norway and Japan to further the peace process.

PTI