* Ambassador says issue must be kept in perspective
* India wants Khobragade case resolved; equal treatment
* India values strong U.S. presence in Asia
By David Brunnstrom
WASHINGTON, Jan 21 (Reuters) – The case of the Indian consul
arrested and strip-searched in New York last month was handled
“appallingly” and needs to be resolved, but the United States
remains probably India’s most important ally, the Indian
ambassador to Washington said on Tuesday.
“I won’t underplay this incident, I won’t overplay this
incident. I think we need to see it in perspective,” S.
Jaishankar said in an interview. “I think we are in the midst of
working this one out.”
Jaishankar said India was “perplexed” by the decisions of
U.S. authorities to arrest and strip-search 39-year-old Devyani
Khobragade, India’s deputy consul in New York, after she was
accused of visa fraud and underpaying her maid.
“There was a fair measure of anger about both the substance
of the problem and the way it was handled,” he said. “It was not
just done publicly; frankly it was done appallingly.”
But Jaishankar, who arrived in Washington in December after
serving as Indian ambassador to China, played down the impact on
the practical side of the relationship – emphasizing that the
two sides were still talking despite the postponement of two
high-level U.S. visits this month, including one by U.S. Energy
Secretary Ernest Moniz.
“Frankly, it’s probably the most important relationship,” he
said. “We are not holding up business, or Pentagon dealings, or
congressional dealings … or science programs and saying, ‘They
don’t get done until things get sorted out.'”
Jaishankar said, however, there was a need to resolve both
the Khobragade case and the broader issue of the lesser level of
diplomatic immunity accorded to Indian and other foreign
consular staff in the United States compared with what
Washington expects for its consular staff serving overseas.
‘LARGER ISSUE’
Asked if India supported a demand from Khobragade’s lawyer
for the charges against her to be dropped, he said, “That is an
issue in respect of this diplomat, but I think there is a larger
issue of immunities and privileges.”
“I think we need to sit down and work this one out.”
Khobragade left the United States this month after a complex
deal in which her diplomatic status was switched to the United
Nations, affording her a greater degree of immunity from
prosecution. But U.S. authorities have so far refused to drop
the charges against her.
Until the issue was resolved, Jaishankar said, the level of
immunity enjoyed by U.S. consular officials in India would be
reduced to exactly the level granted in the United States.
“Since our consular officials have no immunity against
felonies, U.S. consular officials do not have immunity against
serious crimes in India,” he said.
India sharply curbed privileges offered to U.S. diplomats in
retaliation for Khobragade’s treatment and asked Washington to
withdraw a diplomat from New Delhi.
It also ordered the U.S. Embassy to close a club for
expatriate Americans in New Delhi, and a government source said
it was also preparing steps against the American Embassy School,
which it suspected may be employing some staff in violation of
visa rules.
Jaishankar noted that many Asian nations valued the U.S.
presence in their region and that India was keeping a “watchful”
eye on the debate over the U.S. budget, which has seen U.S.
military leaders warning about the possible impact on
Washington’s ability to respond to global crises.
“I think as uncertainties mount, as volatility grows, I
think people do value a strong American presence,”
Jaishankar said.
He noted efforts last year by then-U.S. Deputy Defense
Secretary Ashton Carter to deepen bilateral defense ties,
including proposed co-development of the next version of the
Javelin anti-tank missile now built by Raytheon Co and
Lockheed Martin Corp. [ID: nL2N0HG00N]
Jaishankar called co-development of defense technologies
with India “uncharted territory” and added it was a matter he
had discussed in his initial interactions with the Pentagon
since taking up his post. Still, he said such proposals would
take time to develop.
(Additional reporting by Phil Stewart; Writing by David
Brunnstrom; Editing by Peter Cooney)
