Pakistan, India sign new visa agreement

ISLAMABAD -- Pakistan and India signed a new visa agreement Saturday that makes cross-border travel easier, the latest sign of thawing relations between two nuclear-armed countries that have long seen each other as enemies.

Pakistani Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar announced the agreement during a news conference with her Indian counterpart, S.M. Krishna. Both spoke positively about the momentum in reducing tension between the countries.

"Today there is a deep commitment from both political leaderships to ensure that the narrative that we build for our future generations is that of looking at this relationship with a different lens," Khar said.

Pakistan and India have been at odds since they were both carved out of British India in 1947 amid religious bloodshed on both sides. Pakistan was formed as a Muslim-majority state, while the predominant religion in India is Hinduism. They have fought three wars, including two over Kashmir.

The announcement was seen as significant because it indicated Pakistan's powerful army supported greater trade with India to improve the nation's flagging economy. The army had always been seen as a barrier to a better relationship with India.

The visa agreement should also increase goodwill between the countries. The agreement makes travel easier for businesspeople, tourists, religious pilgrims, children and the elderly.