Proposed resolution (approved by CWG 2026-06-10):

Change in 7.6.6 [expr.add] paragraph 2 as follows:

For subtraction, one of the following shall hold:

• both operands have arithmetic type; or
• both operands are pointers to cv-qualified or cv-unqualified versions of the same similar (7.3.6 [conv.qual]) completely-defined complete object type types; or
• the left operand is a pointer to a completely-defined object type and the right operand has integral type.

[Accepted as a DR at the June, 2026 meeting.]

(From submission #892.)

Consider:

char**p;
int diff = p - (const char * const *)p;

This is ill-formed per 7.6.6 [expr.add] paragraph 2, but ought to be allowed, in harmony with 7.6.9 [expr.rel] paragraph 3, 7.6.10 [expr.eq] paragraph 3, and 7.6.16 [expr.cond] paragraph 4.