Kerry tries to ease tensions with India after diplomat arrest

Following the arrest and strip-search of an Indian female diplomat in the U.S. on charges of visa fraud, Secretary of State John Kerry on Wednesday moved to ease the simmering tensions between the two countries. In a phone call to India's National Security Adviser Shivshankar Menon, Kerry stressed the importance of affording all diplomats "respect and dignity, " according to a statement by the State Department Deputy Spokesperson Marie Harf. "The Secretary understands very deeply the importance of enforcing our laws and protecting victims, and, like all officials in positions of responsibility inside the U.S. Government, expects that laws will be followed by everyone here in our country," Harf said. "It is also particularly important to Secretary Kerry that foreign diplomats serving in the United States are accorded respect and dignity just as we expect our own diplomats should receive overseas," she pointed out. Ms Khobragade, 39, was strip-searched, cavity-searched, DNA-swabbed, and placed in a prison cell with drug criminals after her arrest last week, actions which Indian officials have described as "despicable and barbaric." "As a father of two daughters about the same age -- the Secretary empathizes with the sensitivities we are hearing from India about the events that unfolded after Ms. Khobragade's arrest, and in his conversation with National Security Advisor Menon he expressed his regret, as well as his concern," said Harf. Kerry also said he would "not allow this unfortunate public issue to hurt our close and vital relationship with India." India has already responded swiftly to the incident by removing the security barricades at the U.S. embassy, revoking personnel IDs, and freezing embassy goods imports, among other "reciprocal measures." White House Press Secretary Jay Carney said the U.S. has "conveyed at high levels to the government of India our expectation that India will continue to fulfill all of its obligations -- under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations and Vienna Convention on Consular Relations." "The safety and security of our diplomats and consular officials in the field is a top priority," he added.