Unfortunate Khobragade could not complete tenure of service in US: Salman Khurshid

Foreign Minister Salam Khurshid on Saturday said that Indian Diplomat Dr. Devyani Khobragade will continue being an Indian Foreign Service officer, and added that it was sad she could not complete the tenure of service in the United States.

New Delhi: Foreign Minister Salam Khurshid on Saturday said that Indian Diplomat Dr. Devyani Khobragade will continue being an Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer, and added that it was sad she could not complete the tenure of service in the United States.

"She is a member of the IFS and she will continue as that. Although, it is always sad when circumstances require withdrawal of anyone before they can complete their tenure of service in a certain place," said Khurshid. He said there was no standoff between India and the United States and that issues would be sorted out mutually. "There is no standoff between India and US. There are certain issues of domestic law and that we will find out, and if there are any issues we will sort them out mutually," he said. He further said that such steps have to be taken at times to maintain international relations. "These are very time tested principles on which international relations are built. You may not always agree with the decisions there are some sustained structures and we have to respect international treaties, conventions and agreements," he said. Indian diplomat Dr. Devyani Khobragade thanked the people for their support after she arrived in New Delhi on Friday night from New York, after being given diplomatic immunity. A US diplomat, who is believed to be deeply involved in manipulating the case against Khobragade, has also been expelled and asked to leave in 48 hours, in retaliation against the arrest, humiliation and expulsion of Khobragade. According to reports, the diplomat is at the same rank as Khobragade. Khobragade after getting diplomatic immunity and flew back to India, MEA spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin said on Friday. Akbaruddin further said that Khobragade, Counsellor at the Permanent Mission of India to the United Nations in New York, was accredited on January 8 and given the privileges and immunities of a diplomatic envoy under the terms of Section 15 of the Headquarters Agreement between the United Nations and the United States. According to Akbaruddin, at the time of her departure to India, Khobragade reiterated her innocence regarding charges filed against her and affirmed her gratitude to the Indian government, the people and the media for their support during this period. She also affirmed her determination to ensure that the episode would not leave a lasting impact on her family, in particular, her children, who are still in the United States, Akbaruddin added.