Asserting that the US downgrade of India's aviation regulator had "absolutely nothing" to do with the Khobragade affair, the US says it was committed to help India get its status back as soon as possible.

"This absolutely had nothing to do with the ongoing case of Dr. Khobragade," State Department spokesperson Marie Harf told reporters Friday when asked if the US action would hurt efforts to restore ties with India after their worst diplomatic spat over the Dec 12 arrest of an Indian diplomat.