"Securing immunities and privileges for U.S. officials abroad is best done by respecting international conventions and according entitled courtesies in the United States," he wrote.

All that India has been demanding is that Indian diplomats should be afforded "the same immunities and courtesies under the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations that the U.S. government seeks for its officials posted abroad."

"Immunity is the fundamental concept on which diplomats operate," a source said. Yet the Americans are very "generous" in interpreting international conventions when it relates to them and very "stingy" when it comes to others.

"The U.S. is very reluctant to commit and very quick to ask" the source quipped taking a look back at the Khobragade affair that has threatened to derail one of "the most important relationships" for both nations.

In choosing to criminalise "a wage dispute with a domestic employee", a source said the U.S. had ignored a pre-existing legal case in India with Khobragade as the first complainant against her housekeeper and nanny, Sangeeta Richard.
Read more:
Indian-American Sikh Held On Terrorism Charges
India Overreacted To Devyani's Arrest: U.S. Media