New Delhi, December 24
All ID cards provided to US Consular officials stand withdrawn, the government said today as India hardened its position in the ongoing stand-off with Washington over the arrest of Indian diplomat Devyani Khobragade in New York on December 12.

“Notwithstanding reports to the contrary, India has decided to take firm reciprocal steps following the end of the deadline for surrender of ID cards provided to US Consular Staff in India,” sources said.

New cards, which were exact replicas of the cards provided to Indian Consulate officials in the US, were being given in lieu of the withdrawn cards.

These cards would only be given to the Consular officials and would not be provided to family members since the family members of Indian Consulate officials in the US were also not provided such cards, sources added.

“This will ensure strict reciprocity in terms of the ID cards being carried by Indian and US Consular officials in each other’s country.”

Sources also stated that the US Consular staff would now only be permitted to import their requirements during the first six months on assuming office as is provided in the Vienna Convention for Consular Relations. Previously, they were allowed to import their requirements over the three-year period of their tenure.

Sources dispelled as incorrect the news that the clearances were accorded for any of requests made for import of duty free goods since the freeze was announced last week.

They said the data regarding US schools which has been received was being analysed and assessed.

Dismissing concerns regarding security of US diplomatic officials in India, sources reiterated that India took its obligations under the Vienna Convention very seriously and there has not been any loosening of security. There was no change in the security situation and all US diplomatic and consular officials were being provided security as before.

The sources added that changes were made in the traffic movement patterns but no changes were effected in the security status of the US embassy in New Delhi. Security personnel remain deployed at the check posts.