UNITED NATIONS, Feb 10: United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon exhorted leaders of Pakistan and India on Tuesday to resume the “composite dialogue” to resolve all outstanding issues, including Kashmir.

“The world leaders, including myself, had urged leaders of both countries to calm down at a time when the relations between them were ‘very tense’ after the Mumbai attacks”, Mr Ban told a press conference after his 3-week tour of world’s hot spots.

“The relationship between India and Pakistan is so important in the subcontinent and in the region.

“Therefore, all pending issues should be resolved through composite dialogue that they have initiated,” he said.

“During my visit to India and Pakistan, I was reasonably relieved and also gratified that leaders of both countries are committed to cooperating” to resolve the issue.

Mr Ban said he had impressed upon the Pakistani leaders, including President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, that they should fully cooperate with India and thoroughly investigate the Mumbai terrorist attacks.

He said that the Pakistani leaders had “committed to me” that they would “fully cooperate” with India in the investigation.

Prime Minister Gilani, Mr Ban said, had told him that his government was in the process of enacting a legislation under which those who committed crimes outside their territory could be punished. “That is very commendable,” he said.

Asked about the Kashmir issue, Mr Ban said the relationship between the two countries was so important for the subcontinent and the region that all the pending issues should be resolved through composite dialogue they had initiated.