NEW DELHI: The US has apologised to former President APJ Abdul Kalam for subjecting him to frisking at New York's JFK Airport, an incident that had provoked sharp reactions from India which threatened retaliatory action.

In a written apology to Kalam and the Indian government, the US said, "Appropriate procedure for expedited screening of dignitaries had not been followed".

"We deeply regret the inconvenience that resulted for him (Kalam) as a result of the September 29 incident involving the security screening at JFK Airport in New York," a statement from the US Embassy here said, noting that it had the utmost respect for Kalam.

They also said that US was actively working to prevent such incidents from occurring in the future.

Taking serious note of the incident, India had threatened retaliatory action with external affairs minister SM Krishna directing Indian ambassador to US Nirupama Rao to take up the matter in writing at the "highest level" with Washington.

The US said that subsequent to the frisking incident, US Charge d' Affairs Peter Burleigh personally hand delivered a letter from the US transportation security administrator to Kalam and a similar letter was delivered to the government of India regretting the incident.

Maintaining that it "deeply values and appreciates" the strong relationship and partnership with India, the US said, "We are confident that despite this regrettable incident, we will continue working closely with India in the many areas of our strategic partnership".

80-year-old Kalam was frisked in New York on September 29 before boarding an Air India flight.

Sources said that even after Kalam had taken his seat in the aircraft, the US security personnel forced the crew to open the door and took away the jacket and boots of the former president to check for explosives since they had forgotten to do so before his boarding. The items were later returned to Kalam. — PTI

NEW DELHI: India's seeking Most Favoured Nation (MFN) status from Pakistan will be the top agenda during the two-day Commerce Secretary-level talks beginning here tomorrow.

Pakistan's Commerce Secretary Zafar Mahmood arrived here yesterday for the talks. He has stated that Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani is supportive of granting India the MFN status.

"We have to fully normalise our relationship and you cannot fully normalise the trade relationship without invoking the MFN principle...so we will be working on that," Mahmood has said.

In the talks, India will seek clarity on Pakistan's decision to grant New Delhi the crucial MFN status, official sources said.

This is the sixth round of talks on commercial and economic co-operation between the Commerce Secretaries. Last round was held in April, when India's Commerce Secretary Rahul Khullar visited Islamabad.

Mahmood has also said the present level of engagement has mandate from Pakistani political leadership.

"...Hopefully, you will hear good news after two days", he said. — PTI

HYDERABAD: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested a former Andhra Pradesh government official in connection with the illegal mining case involving former Karnataka minister G. Janardhana Reddy's mining firm, it announced on Sunday.

The CBI Saturday night arrested V.D. Rajagopal who as the then director of mines allegedly favoured Obulapuram Mining Company (OMC) by granting leases for iron ore mining in Anantapur district bordering Karnataka.

The former official was taken into custody after he was questioned till late Saturday night at the CBI office here.

Rajagopal was produced before a magistrate at his residence. The magistrate directed the CBI to present him on Monday before the special court hearing CBI cases. The former official was then taken back to the CBI office where he was being questioned.

The investigating agency sleuths also searched Rajagopal's residence and seized some documents.

He is the third accused to be arrested in the case registered by the CBI against OMC in 2009.

The investigating agency had arrested Janardhana Reddy, and his brother-in-law and OMC managing director B.V. Srinivas Reddy from Bellary in Karnataka September 5. They are lodged at Chanchalguda Central Jail here. — IANS