US and India focused on moving relationship forward: Jen Psaki

India and the US are now focused on moving their ties forward after a row over the arrest of an Indian diplomat in New York last year, top American official has said.
This was an issue that was discussed between the two countries last year and early this year, State Department Spokesperson Jen Psaki told reporters when asked about the recent interview by Devyani Khobragade, who was arrested in US last year on charges of visa fraud.
"I am not aware of anything recently or anything through official channels. Obviously, this is a topic that had been discussed... Late last year and early this year," Psaki said, adding, "Our focus has been on moving our relationship forward, and Secretary Kerry was there this summer."

Khobragade, a Director-level officer in the Ministry of External Affairs in New Delhi said in her recent interview, "Things haven't moved as such, but I am hopeful that specially this government will take it up positively because this is not just my matter, it's about having a special judicial process against a diplomat."
Khobragade, who was formerly Deputy Consul General of India in New York, was arrested and strip-searched in the US last December on charges of visa fraud and underpaying her domestic help but released later on a USD 250,000 bond.
The issue had escalated into a full-blown diplomatic spat between the two countries. Indian officials transferred Khobragade to the country's mission to the United Nations in the US to provide her full diplomatic immunity.

The State Department then asked Khobragade to leave the country. She returned to India one day after her indictment in a US court in January this year.
The two countries held a series of high-level diplomatic talks in the recent months. Secretary of State John Kerry and Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel were in India this summer.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi had visited US last month and held talks with US President Barack Obama during which the two sides vowed to boost strategic ties.