Indian-American security expert Paul Kapur has officially assumed the role of Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs, a critical post in the Trump administration’s engagement with the region. His swearing-in was confirmed Wednesday by the Bureau, which welcomed him as the bureau’s new leader responsible for shaping US policy in South and Central Asia.
Kapur succeeds Donald Lu, who held the position from September 2021 until January 2025. Prior to this appointment, Kapur served on the State Department’s Policy Planning Staff from 2020 to 2021, focusing on South and Central Asia, the broader Indo-Pacific strategy, and India-US bilateral relations. He has also led the India-US Track 1.5 dialogue and other strategic defense and security engagements between the two countries.
An academic and policy expert, Kapur is a visiting fellow at the Hoover Institution and a professor at the US Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California. He was confirmed by the Senate in early October, alongside Sergio Gor, the new US Ambassador to India.
During his confirmation hearing in June, Kapur reflected on his personal and professional journey, describing it as coming “full circle.” Born in New Delhi to an Indian father and an American mother, he spent much of his childhood visiting India but grew up in the United States, never imagining he would return in such a significant diplomatic capacity.
On US-India relations, Kapur emphasized the shared interests between the two nations: ensuring a free and open Indo-Pacific, countering regional dominance by China, expanding bilateral trade, promoting technology and innovation, and securing energy access to support economic growth. Regarding Pakistan, he indicated that the US would pursue security cooperation where it aligns with American interests.
The Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs plays a central role in guiding US strategy across the region, encompassing security, economic development, counterterrorism, and infrastructure initiatives. Kapur’s appointment underscores the United States’ commitment to strengthening regional partnerships and maintaining a robust diplomatic and strategic presence across South and Central Asia.
