From NPR News in Washington, I'm Ann Bozell.

India's prime minister and Pakistan's president are holding the first formal talks between their two countries in more than two years.

NPR's Michael Sullivan reports from Accra India.

India's Prime Minister Vajpa and Pakistan's President Musharraf today held a one-on-one meeting that lasted more than an

hour and a half, far longer than had been expected. An Indian foreign ministry spokesperson today

described the talks as cordial, frank, and constructive, a description echoed by a spokesman from the

Pakistani side. Prime Minister Vajpae has also accepted an invitation from General Musharraf

to visit Pakistan, though no date for that meeting was announced. Indian officials say the two men

discussed the disputed region of Kashmir, reducing the risk of nuclear war, and what India calls

Pakistan's support of cross-border terrorism in Kashmir. The two leaders are meeting again

this evening and are expected to hold a final round of talks tomorrow. Michael Sullivan, NPR News, Agra.

Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres has assured Arabs that Israel is not planning to target

Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat or launch a major military

assault on Palestinian territories.

Israeli media had reported last week on contingency plans for such actions.

Peres met with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak today in Cairo and then talked one-on-one with

Arafat. The director of the Pentagon's Missile Defense Program says it will be a few weeks before researchers can evaluate last night's missile test.

But Air Force Lieutenant General Ronald Kedish says they do know that the interceptor hit its target, a mock nuclear warhead.

The successful test gives a boost to President Bush's plans for a national missile defense system,

plans likely to come under discussion in Moscow,

where Chinese President Zhang Zemin is holding a three-day summit with President Vladimir Putin.

NPR's Mike Schuster reports from Moscow.

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