"So far as the apprehensions of Pakistan are concerned, I can assure you we are determined to build good relations with Pakistan; and in fact we are doing so through the mechanism of the composite dialogue. We are addressing all the outstanding issues between our two countries," External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee told a press conference in Washington.

Mukherjee, who was in Washington briefly to sign the civilian nuclear cooperation agreement with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, was asked to comment on the implications of the deal with respect to Pakistan and New Delhi's response should Islamabad pursue a similar initiative with either the United States or China.

"The statement issued by Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari after his meeting with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is really encouraging. And there is no reason for any apprehension by Pakistan. India's commitment to non-proliferation is second to none; and we have in my statement of September 8 reiterated our continuation of voluntary moratorium which we declared in 1998," he said.