New Delhi, Feb 7 : India has expressed regret over the acquittal of Pakistan''s disgraced nuclear scientist Dr. A Q Khan who has been accused of running a clandestine nuclear proliferation ring.

The Pakistan Government came to a secret out-of-court settlement on Friday, and declared Dr. Khan as a free citizen.

Minister of State for External Affairs Anand Sharma said that Pakistan''s decision to let off Dr. Khan is yet another example of its deception.

He also said that Pakistan had always allowed individuals to act in a fashion detrimental to global security.

Sharma urged the world community to notice the casual attitude of Pakistan towards those who trample upon international conventions and understandings on nuclear non-proliferation.

Earlier, the United States had also voiced concern over Dr. Khan''s acquittal and termed him as a "serious proliferation risk".

Twelve associates and three firms of US last month slapped sanctions on Dr. Khan barring him from doing business with the American government or private companies.

Britain has also asked Pakistan to grant the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) access to Khan to question him on his proliferation activities.

The 72-year-old Khan has been effectively under house arrest in Islamabad since February 2004, when he confessed on television to sending nuclear secrets to Iran, Libya and North Korea, although he later retracted his remarks.

Military ruler and then president Pervez Musharraf pardoned Khan in 2004, but he was kept at his residence, guarded by troops and intelligence agents. (ANI)