Washington: Seeking to distance itself from US prosecutor Preet Bharara securing a re-indictment of Indian diplomat Devyani Khobragade, the US state department says it`s "very hopeful about what the future holds" for India-US relationship.
"Obviously, this is in the hands of the Department of Justice," spokesperson Jen Psaki told reporters Monday via teleconference in snowbound Washington when asked about the re-indictment of Khobragade two days after the dismissal of a visa fraud case against her by a New York judge.
"In terms of the future of our relationship, as you know, Assistant Secretary (of State Nisha Desai) Biswal was just in India," she said. "She had a productive trip while she was there. She had a range of meetings while she was there."
"Our relationship and all of the issues we work together on are far too important," Psaki said. "So we`re looking forward, and we`re very hopeful about what the future holds."
Asked to comment on the upcoming parliamentary elections in India, Psaki said: "I think we`re conveying pretty clearly that we have an important relationship and we work together on economic, strategic, and security issues."
Biswal`s "trip was evidence of that as well", she said.
Expressing disappointment over Khobragade`s second indictment India had Saturday described it as an "unnecessary step" and said "India`s government will no longer engage on this case in the US legal system".
The Dec 12 arrest and strip search of Khobragade, India`s then deputy consul general in New York, had sparked a major diplomatic row between the two countries and led to the postponement of India-US energy dialogue and the first India visit by Biswal.