Foreign Minister Stephen Smith is not saying whether his Indian counterpart directly requested access to Australian uranium exports during talks in New Delhi.

The Indian Foreign Minister Pranab Muhkherjee met Mr Smith yesterday for the first time since the Nuclear Suppliers Group granted India a waiver to trade in nuclear fuel and technology with Australia's backing.

Mr Smith says there is mutual respect for Australia's policy barring uranium sales to countries that have not signed the nuclear non-proliferation treaty and India's position against signing the treaty.

"A number of Indian officials and Foreign Minister Mukherjee said to me using different phrases the way I've said it publicly; you know, one commodity and one sector does not a relationship make or break," he said.

Liberal MP Andrew Robb says Mr Smith is being disingenuous by failing to say whether India pressed for access to the uranium.

"At every level, they are deeply affronted by the decision of the Australian Government to refuse to sell our uranium, while encouraging the rest of the world to sell uranium to India," he said.

"They can't understand it, they are affronted, and it will affect our relationship, and it will cost Australians billions of dollars in the years ahead."