US Diplomats Not To Be Given Extra Privileges, Hints India

New Delhi, Mar 8, IRNA -- Indicating that US diplomats will not be given any extra privileges, India said diplomatic immunity will be granted strictly on reciprocal basis as special airport access to American ambassador has not been restored after two and half months. Admitting that earlier a lot of privileges were granted to the US diplomats on ˈgive and takeˈ basis, sources on Friday said the Khobragade episode has provided ˈbetter understandingˈ on such issues, asserting that benefits pertaining to tax, imports and other immunity-related matters should be adhered to on strict reciprocity. ˈIt is simple matter of math and equation... Diplomacy always works on principle of reciprocity and the Khobragade issue has provided a better understanding of such matters,ˈ the PTI reported quoting sources as said here. Asked if the special airport access pass to the US envoy, which was withdrawn in the wake of arrest of senior Indian diplomat Devyani Khobragade, has been restored, sources said ˈsince we do not have that privilege, the same is applied to themˈ, making it clear that Ambassador Nancy Powellˈs pass has not been restored. The arrest of Khobragade on December 12 in New York on visa fraud charges had triggered a row between the two countries with India retaliating by downgrading privileges of certain category of US diplomats among other steps. Khobragade was indicted by a US grand jury on visa fraud and making false statements. She returned to India after she was asked to leave the US by the State Department. Asked about India not making any distinction between immunity of US Embassy and consular staff before the Khobragade issue, the sources said ˈearlier lot of privileges were granted on the basis of give and take basisˈ but post-Khobragade incident it was decided to grant such benefits strictly on reciprocity which is understood and appreciated world-over./end