(VOVworld) - US Secretary of State John Kerry has expressed his regret over the arrest of Indian Deputy consul general Devyani Khobragade in New York last week and worried that US-Indian bilateral ties could be adversely affected.

India-US diplomatic row protest. Photo: internet

In a phone call with India's national security adviser Shavshankar Menon, John Kerry called on New Delhi not to let the incident damage US-Indian relations. The Indian government has withdrawn some privileges and security measures given to U.S. diplomats in India.
In response, Kerry said foreign diplomats working in the US are respected and the US hopes that its diplomats will be treated equally when working abroad. In the latest development, Devyani Khobragade has been transferred to the country's permanent mission to the United Nations. With her new position, she will be exempt from prosecution.