S. Paul Kapur Appointed as Second Top Diplomat of Indian Descent for the U.S.
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Synopsis
S. Paul Kapur has been nominated by the Trump administration to head the South Asia bureau at the State Department. If confirmed, he will be the second top U.S. diplomat of Indian descent, overseeing diplomatic relations with South Asian nations.
Key Takeaways
- S. Paul Kapur nominated as Assistant Secretary of State for South Asian Affairs.
- He previously worked on U.S.-India relations and South Asian policy.
- Will lead a smaller bureau compared to predecessor Nisha Biswal.
- Kapur has an extensive background in academia and strategic dialogues.
- His academic work focuses on South Asian security and nuclear issues.
Washington, Feb 13 (NationPress) S. Paul Kapur, who has previously engaged in fostering relations with India, has been nominated by the Trump administration to lead the South Asia bureau at the State Department, which is responsible for diplomatic relations with India and the surrounding region.
"Paul Kapur, from California, is set to become the Assistant Secretary of State for South Asian Affairs," stated a release from the office of Vice-President J.D. Vance, which included numerous appointments submitted for the US Senate's review and approval.
Currently, Kapur is a professor at the Naval Postgraduate School, where he focuses on South Asian politics, security, and international relations.
If confirmed, he will become the second top U.S. diplomat of Indian descent in charge of relations with South Asian nations. However, unlike his predecessor, he will oversee a smaller regional scope.
Nisha Biswal, the first Indian-descent Assistant Secretary of State, managed a broader bureau known as South and Central Asia, which encompassed several countries that are now excluded.
As per his biography on the Naval College website, from 2020 to 2021, Kapur was part of the State Department's policy planning staff, focusing on matters related to South and Central Asia, Indo-Pacific strategy, and US-India relations.
Prior to this role, Kapur was an instructor at Claremont McKenna College and held a visiting professorship at Stanford University.
He has authored books 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.
Kapur has also co-authored India, Pakistan, and the Bomb: Debating Nuclear Stability in South Asia; and co-edited The Challenges of Nuclear Security: US and Indian Perspectives.
His work has been published in prominent academic journals like International Security, Security Studies, Asian Survey, and Washington Quarterly; as well as in media outlets such as The Wall Street Journal, The National Interest, and RealClearPolicy, and various edited volumes.
Additionally, the online resume highlights that Kapur directs a US-India Track 1.5 strategic dialogue along with other US-India initiatives for the Department of Defence.
Kapur earned his Ph.D. from the University of Chicago and his B.A. from Amherst College.
