Powell cancels Nepal visit due to ‘pressing issues'

NEW DELHI, DEC 28 -

The US Embassy in New Delhi on Friday clarified that Ambassador Nancy Powell ’s personal holiday plans in Nepal were cancelled due to pressing issues.  Acting spokesperson in the US Embassy Lee McManis was commenting on reports that Powell had cancelled the visit to Nepal after India downgraded privileges and benefits enjoyed by the US diplomats including the ambassador here such as withdrawal of special pass to airports which gave them special access to various procedural checks.

“Ambassador Powell’s personal holiday plans in Nepal were cancelled to deal with pressing issues,” McManis said.

Meanwhile, an Indian media said Powell, who had informed the government in New Delhi about her travel plans to Nepal, cancelled her visit after the airport pass which gave her special access to various procedural checks at the airport stood withdrawn as India downgraded privileges and benefits to US diplomats in sharp retaliation to the arrest of its Deputy Consul General Devyani Khobragade.

Only the Ambassador’s airport pass came with a photo ID which was exclusively for her while all other passes known as “floating” airport cards were used by the US diplomats as “if and when required” basis, IBN Live quoted government sources as saying.