Reaching agreement

The CBC deal is undoubtedly a huge story. But it may not be the most important agreement reached today, as India and Pakistan have agreed to notify each other of any future missile testing:

"The agreement entails that both countries provide each other advance notification of flight tests that it intends to undertake of any surface-to-surface ballistic missile," the Indian side said in a statement.

"India has now handed over a draft memorandum of understanding on measures to reduce the risks of accidental or unauthorized use of nuclear weapons under the control of both countries," the statement said...

Singh was likely to meet Pakistani President Gen. Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz on Tuesday, and revive a joint commission for promoting economic cooperation and other contacts. Singh will also travel to the southern port city of Karachi to meet business leaders. He returns to India on Wednesday.

The new agreements seem to be fairly limited in scope, but they do reflect a willingness to cooperate that has to bode well for more contentious issues. We'll know very soon whether this is the start of a substantial move away from the arms race that has all too often characterized relations between India and Pakistan.