Taking a further step towards normalisation of ties, India and Pakistan on Monday signed two agreements on pre-notification of ballistic missile tests and establishment of a communication link between the Coast Guard and the Pakistan Maritime Security Agency.
Natwar Singh's visit important: Pak
The agreement was reached during the talks between External Affairs Minister K Natwar Singh and his Pakistani counterpart Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri on carrying forward the composite dialogue process to resolve all outstanding issues, including Kashmir.
The agreement on pre-notification of missile tests was signed by Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran and his Pakistani counterpart Riaz Mohammad Khan.
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.
An understanding in this regard was reached between the two countries at the third round of Nuclear confidence building measure talks held on August 5-6 in New Delhi.
India had presented a draft on pre-notification of the tests during the first round of expert level talks on Nuclear CBMs in June 2004.
During the second round of the talks held in December last year, detailed discussions were held on the draft agreement on the issue and positions were brought closer.
India has now handed over a draft memorandum of understanding on measures to reduce the risks of accidental or unauthorised use of nuclear weapons under the control of both countries.
Director General, Coast Guard, Vice Admiral A K Singh and his Pakistani counterpart signed the agreement on establishment of communication links between the Coast Guard and the Pakistan Maritime Security Agency.
India is also likely to propose a number of confidence building measures to enhance people-to-people contact.
