Paul Kapur has been nominated for the role of Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs by US President Donald Trump. If confirmed, Kapur will be in the top diplomatic position that will look after US intersets with India and its neighbouring countries such as Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan.
On June 10, during his nomination hearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Kapur stressed his interest in pursuing security and strategic partnership with India, aligned with the best interests of America. He said he would “pursue security cooperation where it is beneficial to the US interest, seeking opportunities for bilateral collaboration in trade and investment”.
Kapur mentioned the common goals shared by India and the United States, which include a free and Indo-Pacific region from Chinese dominance. He also highlighted the need to boost trade, enhance technology sharing, and improve energy access between the two democracies.
“If confirmed, I will work to further advance US-India relations and put our partnership on course to realise its tremendous promise,” he added.
“We will promote long-standing security interests with India, Pakistan through the pursuit of peace and stability and fight against terrorism,” Kapur said.
Who is Paul Kapur?
President Trump’s February 2025 nomination of Paul Kapur for Assistant Secretary of State for South Asian Affairs marks a significant development in US foreign policy. If confirmed, Kapur would assume the position from Donald Lu, whose tenure concluded on January 17, 2025.
Kapur, a professor in the Department of National Security Affairs at the US Naval Postgraduate School, is widely recognised for his scholarly contributions to South Asian security and nuclear policy.
His influence extends to the formulation of US foreign policy concerning South and Central Asia. Holding a BA from Amherst College and a PhD from the University of Chicago, Kapur is also the author of several impactful works, such as Jihad as Grand Strategy: Islamist Militancy, National Security, and the Pakistani State and Dangerous Deterrent: Nuclear Weapons Proliferation and Conflict in South Asia.