India and the United States are continuing their talks to resolve the standoff over the mistreatment of diplomat Devyani Khobragade in New York. External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid has said that the two sides are in conversation at different levels and the talks over the issue should be allowed to come to its logicl conclusion.
Khurshid described US as a valuable partner and said it must understand the value of the partnership.
Talking to the media on the sidelines of an event organised by FICCI in New Delhi on Saturday Khurshid said, by arresting the senior diplomat, the channels of communication got interrupted, which is a matter of concern.
He said both sides would not want their close ties to be hurt by this one incident.
State Department spokesperson Jen Psaki said Secretary of State John Kerry is planning to call Khurshid soon to discuss the issue to find a way forward. She said Kerry tried to reach out to Khurshid earlier but he could not do so as Parliament was in session and Salman Khurshid was not available at the time.
But, she said Kerry looks forward to speaking with him soon when both sides can align the two schedules up.
She also said the US Foreign Secretary has actively engaged on the issue and has received several briefings on the issue.
Pesky said Washington fully agrees on the importance to preserve and protect the partnership between the two countries.
So, the two sides will continue the discussions through diplomatic channels and private conversations, she said.
But, the US spokesperson continued to insist that senior Indian diplomat Devyani Khobragade will not get retroactive immunity after her transfer to the Indian mission at the UN.
Peski also said that the US is yet to get an official request through the proper channels for accreditation and hinted the full diplomatic immunity would remain till the time she is posted at the UN.
Meanwhile, the UN has said it has received official notification from India to register Khobragade as a member of the country's Permanent Mission. Acting Deputy Spokesperson for the Secretary-General Farhan Haq said the request will be processed according to standard procedures.
Reports say, the US assertion that retroactive immunity is not possible flies in the face of precedents.
In an incident in 1982, a Saudi prince was accused of holding an Egyptian woman against her will in Dade County in Florida state.
Observers say that at the time of the incident, Prince Abdulaziz had no diplomatic credentials.
But three weeks later, the State Department granted Abdulaziz and his family full diplomatic immunity.
The Circuit Court of Appeals held that the Prince had been eligible for diplomatic status at the time of the incident even if he had not received it.
The Court ruling, in effect, endorsed the concept of retroactive immunity.
