Indian-American Paul Kapur Takes Charge as US Assistant Secretary for South and Central Asian Affairs
Indian-American security expert Dr. Paul Kapur has officially assumed office as the US Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs, marking a key diplomatic appointment under the Trump administration. His swearing-in ceremony took place on October 22, 2025, at the State Department in Washington, D.C., where officials praised his expertise in Indo-Pacific and South Asian strategic affairs.
The announcement was confirmed by the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs on X (formerly Twitter), posting: “Welcome to @State_SCA, Assistant Secretary Paul Kapur! This morning Dr. Kapur was officially sworn in as the Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs.”
Dr. Kapur succeeds Donald Lu, who had held the position since September 2021 and completed his term in January 2025. His appointment comes at a time when Washington is recalibrating its strategy toward a region central to US security, trade, and geopolitical priorities.
A Distinguished Background – Paul Kapur
Born in New Delhi to an Indian father and an American mother, Paul Kapur identifies as Indian-American. Describing his background as “a full circle moment,” Kapur shared during his Senate confirmation hearing in June 2025: “Though I was born in India, I grew up as a thoroughly American kid. Never did I imagine that my career would someday bring me back to the place where I was born — to serve the country that raised me.”
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He earned his Bachelor’s degree from Amherst College and a Ph.D. from the University of Chicago. Kapur currently serves as a professor of National Security Affairs at the US Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California, and is also a visiting fellow at Stanford University’s Hoover Institution.
Before this appointment, he worked from 2020 to 2021 on the US State Department’s Policy Planning Staff, where he focused on South and Central Asia, the Indo-Pacific strategy, and India-US relations. He has also played key roles in leading Track 1.5 dialogues and defence cooperation forums between India and the United States.
A Strategic Appointment for the Region
As Assistant Secretary, Kapur will oversee US diplomatic engagement across 13 nations, including India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Bhutan, and the Central Asian republics of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, and Tajikistan.
The Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs (SCA) shapes Washington’s policy on security partnerships, counterterrorism cooperation, technology exchange, and infrastructural development in the broader region. Under Kapur’s leadership, the focus is expected to intensify on enhancing the Indo-Pacific alliance and countering expanding Chinese influence in South Asia.
During his confirmation hearing, Kapur outlined his goals:
“The United States and India share a host of common interests: ensuring a free and open Indo-Pacific region not dominated by China; expanding bilateral trade and building a fair economic relationship; facilitating technology sharing and innovation; and ensuring access to the energy necessary to fuel our economies.”
On Pakistan, he maintained that the US would “pursue security cooperation where beneficial to our interests,” suggesting a pragmatic approach to bilateral ties that balances engagement with counterterrorism vigilance.
Academic and Policy Expertise
Dr. Kapur is widely recognised as one of America’s leading scholars on South Asian security, nuclear deterrence, and regional stability. His acclaimed books such as “Jihad as Grand Strategy: Islamist Militancy, National Security, and the Pakistani State” and “India, Pakistan, and the Bomb: Debating Nuclear Stability in South Asia” have significantly shaped policy discourse on the subcontinent.
In his writings, Kapur has argued that Pakistan’s use of jihad was not merely a response to instability but an instrument of state strategy — a view that has been cited in numerous academic and policy discussions. His notable paper, “Strategic Patience Meets Strategic Opportunity,” describes South Asia as a region “where geopolitical caution intersects with immense potential” — a philosophy that may well define his diplomatic approach.
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Significance for India and the Indo-Pacific
Kapur’s appointment is being viewed as a positive signal for India-US relations, especially amid evolving Indo-Pacific security dynamics and mutual concerns about China’s assertiveness. As someone who understands both American strategic frameworks and India’s regional sensitivities, Kapur is likely to strengthen the ongoing partnerships in defence, trade, and technology.
Analysts believe that his dual heritage and decades of experience make him uniquely positioned to bridge cultural and policy perspectives between Washington and New Delhi. His swearing-in also coincides with the appointment of Sergio Gor as the new US Ambassador to India, marking what many foreign policy experts describe as “a reset moment” for the administration’s South Asia engagement strategy.
Conclusion
With his deep academic background, strategic insight, and personal understanding of the subcontinent, Dr. Paul Kapur’s appointment heralds a new chapter in US diplomacy across South and Central Asia. His tenure is expected to focus on maintaining peace, strengthening alliances, and fostering regional stability through strategic dialogue and pragmatic cooperation.
As his term begins, the eyes of Washington, New Delhi, and the entire Indo-Pacific region will be watching how he shapes America’s next phase of engagement in one of the world’s most geopolitically critical regions.
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