US envoy Nancy Powel regrets circumstances of Devyani Khobragade's arrest
New Delhi: US Ambassador Nancy Powell on Tuesday used a New Year message to express regrets for "the circumstances" of the arrest of Indian Deputy Consul General Devyani Khobragade even as the two countries continued to stick to their positions on the issue.
Powell, who along with other US diplomats have lost extra privileges enjoyed by them, hitherto in India's retaliatory action, said she joins "Secretary Kerry in expressing our regret for the circumstances of the consular officer's arrest, but we believe that we can look forward to continuing to expand our bilateral relations."
Referring to various 'impressive developments' between India and the US in an wide-range of areas, she said, this "forward movement has been jolted by very different reactions to issues involving one of your consular officers and her domestic worker".
Read more: US to proceed with proseuction of Devyani Khobragade
India has been consistently demanding the case be withdrawn unconditionally against Khobragade, the 39-year-old 1999-batch IFS officer who was arrested on December 12 on the charges of underpaying her maid and falsifying the contract documents. The diplomat's arrest and subsequent treatment had sparked an outrage in India which demanded an apology and dropping of all charges against her.
However, the US sources in New York on Monday let it be known that there was no question of withdrawing the case against Khobragade. In fact, they will proceed with indicting her by the January 13 deadline.
Read more: US refutes reports of underpayment to Indians in its missions
Talking about since she arrived here as the American Ambassador, Powell said, "during the subsequent months, the US Mission has been engaged in not only looking forward but in joining our Indian partners in moving forward. We have joined together on behalf of the children of the world in A Global Call to Action on Child Survival.
"We have neared the USD 100 billion mark in two-way trade in goods and services; police chiefs from both of our countries sat together to share their experiences and to look to greater cooperation; we have had deep and fruitful consultations at the highest levels on resolving some of the world’s crises; and via your Mars Orbiter Mission, whose launch I was privileged to watch, we boosted our relationship to a whole new world."
Powell also said she looks forward to increasing trade and investment that creates jobs in both countries, including civilian nuclear cooperation; to continuing consultations on Afghanistan and other key international issues to protect both of our interests in the region.
And also to expanding counter-terrorism and law enforcement cooperation and encouraging more travel in both directions by students, business representatives and citizens, she added.
