New Delhi, Oct. 16 : External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee today praised the free and peaceful presidential polls held in the Maldives last week.

In a statement issued here, Mukherjee said India was heartened by the peaceful and fair manner in which the first round of multiparty Presidential elections in Maldives had taken place recently.

New Delhi, Oct 14 : Pakistan National Security Advisor (NSA) Mahmud Ali Durrani who is on a five-day visit to India with an agenda focused on promoting friendship between the two countries, met External Affair Minister Pranab Mukherjee here today.

According to sources, issues like the spate of recent ceasefire violations, the rise in cross border infiltrations and the Indian Embassy bombing in Kabul were discussed.

New Delhi, Oct 12 : External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee arrived here late last night after the signing of the 123 Agreement between India and the United States in Washington, paving the way for nuclear commerce between the two countries.

Pranab Mukherjee and US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice formally signed the landmark bilateral nuclear cooperation accord.

After signing the agreement, Mukherjee said, "Both India and the US Administration have now completed all our internal procedures to be able to sign this path breaking agreement."

Washington, Oct 11 : External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee on Friday night indicated that it would not mind the United States entering a civil nuclear deal with Pakistan.

At a press conference, after signing the bilateral 123 Agreement with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Mukherjee said, "We believe every country has the right to use nuclear energy for peaceful purposes."

Mukherjee’s statement was in response to a question asked about Islamabad''s demand for an India-like nuclear deal with the US.