Washington: A top White House adviser attempted to smooth over troubled ties between the United States and India on Friday, saying the two countries should not allow the dispute over Indian diplomat Devyani Khobragade to "derail the future we are working diligently to build."
Khobragade, was arrested on December 12 on charges of visa fraud and lying to U.S. authorities about what she paid her housekeeper. She was stripped-searched while detained in a Manhattan federal courthouse, an incident that triggered a major rift between India and the United States.
The controversy interrupted what had been a warming in U.S.-Indian relations as part of a U.S. pivot toward Asia.
President Barack Obama's national security adviser, Susan Rice, addressing the Aspen Institute U.S.-India Dialogue, said recent events had drawn more attention to disagreements than cooperative efforts.
"But those difficulties should be minor compared to the breadth of our relationship and the magnitude of what we can accomplish together. We must also deal with our differences in a constructive manner, commensurate with a relationship of this importance," she said.
The two countries cooperate on a wide range of issues including counterterrorism, regional security and defense. India is also a major market for U.S. weapons.
"We cannot allow such challenges to derail the future we are working diligently to build - a future of greater prosperity, greater security, and consistent adherence to our shared values," Rice said.
Rice also said the United States is confident that, whatever the outcome of India's upcoming national elections, the cooperation and strategic partnership between the two nations will continue to grow.
Khobragade, was arrested on December 12 on charges of visa fraud and lying to U.S. authorities about what she paid her housekeeper. She was stripped-searched while detained in a Manhattan federal courthouse, an incident that triggered a major rift between India and the United States.
The controversy interrupted what had been a warming in U.S.-Indian relations as part of a U.S. pivot toward Asia.
"But those difficulties should be minor compared to the breadth of our relationship and the magnitude of what we can accomplish together. We must also deal with our differences in a constructive manner, commensurate with a relationship of this importance," she said.
Advertisement
"We cannot allow such challenges to derail the future we are working diligently to build - a future of greater prosperity, greater security, and consistent adherence to our shared values," Rice said.
Advertisement
© Thomson Reuters 2014
COMMENTS
Advertisement
'INDIA' Is with You Against "Injustice": Rahul Gandhi To Arvind Kejriwal Indian Athletes Accorded Grand Send-Off Ahead Of Paralympics Games Ishan Kishan Marks His Red-Ball Return With 86-Ball Century In Buchi Babu Tournament. Watch Parents Gave Names Of Interns, Doctors To CBI In Kolkata Horror: Sources Who Is Jasveen Sangha, "Ketamine Queen" Charged With Matthew Perry's Death How Extreme Weather Is Leading To Rise In Child Marriages In Pakistan 80 Killed In Paramilitary Attack In Sudan OpenAI Blocks Iranian Group's ChatGPT Accounts For Targeting US Election Blinken Heading To Israel To Press Gaza Truce Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.