With India strongly reacting to the 'pat-down' search of ambassador Meera Shankar at an American airport, a regretful US today said it was trying to find a "balance" between security concerns and "respect for each other" so that such incidents do not recur.
US deputy chief of mission Donald Lu, terming Shankar as one of most impressive diplomats, said secretary of state Hillary Clinton and governor of Mississippi have already expressed regret over the incident and indicated their desire to revisit existing policies.
"We both India and America -- the two large democracies -- faced very terrible terrorist attacks and all of us have to find a balance between security and our respect for each other. We are trying to do that in the US, We struggle to have that balance set right," he said here.
Noting that the airport screening is a "huge issue" in the US, he said only purpose of having airport security is to make passengers safe and secure.
Lu also hailed Shankar for her contribution in strengthening ties between India and the US.
"We all have tremendous respect for ambassador Meera Shankar. She is one of the most impressive diplomats working today for India. What she has done personally for the Indo-US relationship is well known and we have tremendous respect for her," he said.
Reacting strongly, external affairs minister SM Krishna has called the pat-down of Shankar as "unacceptable" and said the matter would be taken up with the American government.
The ministry has already asked the its mission in Washington to give a detailed report on the incident.
Shankar was pulled out from an airport security line on December 4 and patted down by an American security agent in Mississippi despite being told of her diplomatic status.
The incident took place at the Jackson-Evers International Airport where sari-clad Shankar was about to board a flight to Baltimore after attending the Mississippi State University's programme.
Shankar presented her diplomatic papers to officers and was escorted by a Mississippi Development Authority representative and an airport security officer, but witnesses said she was subjected to the hands-on search.
