WASHINGTON, May 17: Continued rapprochement between Pakistan and India has the potential to improve human rights in Jammu and Kashmir, says the annual US human rights report released on Monday.

The peace process, the report says, can help curb the activities of militants in Kashmir, which can spur the Indian government to reform and improve the human rights performance of its security forces.

In Pakistan, the rapprochement can help create a more stable, prosperous environment for political development. Sectarian tensions, home-grown and imported terrorist groups, extremism, pervasive corruption and ineffective legal systems, however, continued to threaten development, peace and stability in the region, the report warns.

Corruption in South Asia is rampant, perpetuating inefficiency and a lack of administration of justice, often heightening abuse against members of the community who are most vulnerable, such as women and religious minority and ethnic groups, the report observes.