United Nations: United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has expressed hope that India and Pakistan would be able to resolve the Kashmir issue through their ongoing dialgoue.

"It is a long standing issue and should be resolved through peaceful dialogue," he told reporters yesterday (Jan 11, 2007).

The United Nations has an observer team in Kashmir which keeps the world body informed of the developments there, he added.

Ban's remarks were sought in the context of External Affairs Minster Pranab Mukherjee's two-day visit to Islamabad beginning tomorrow (Jan 13, 2007).