UNITED NATIONS, Dec 19: UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan on Thursday said that India and Pakistan could resolve all outstanding disputes “through sustained engagement and a demonstration of flexibility and creativity”.

Brushing aside the question of the implementation of the UN resolutions on Kashmir, the UN chief at a press conference expressed full support for the peace initiatives undertaken by President Pervez Musharraf and Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee.

“I hope that they will continue this engagement. It is only through sustained engagement and a demonstration of flexibility and creativity that, in the end, this issue will be resolved,” he said.

Mr Annan emphasized that he was “really encouraged by the continued thaw in the relations between India and Pakistan and the willingness of the two countries to take important steps towards the improvement of their bilateral relations and a solution of their outstanding issues.”

He said: “I am very pleased and encouraged by the recent initiatives by India and Pakistan, and I congratulate President Musharraf and (Mr) Vajpayee for their leadership. They have my full support.”