U.S. President Donald Trump has nominated S. Paul Kapur, a scholar of Indian origin known for his critical stance on Pakistan, as the next Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia.
The nomination, which was announced during Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Washington, underscores a potential shift in U.S. foreign policy—strengthening ties with India while taking a more skeptical approach toward Pakistan.
Kapur, a professor at the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School and a fellow at Stanford’s Hoover Institution, is widely recognized for his research on regional security dynamics. He has previously argued that Pakistan uses Islamist militancy as a tool of statecraft, a view that aligns with the administration’s evolving South Asia strategy.
Michael Kugelman, a noted expert on South Asian affairs, commented on the appointment, stating that Kapur is a strong advocate for the U.S.-India partnership and a known critic of Pakistan, reflecting the administration’s broader regional outlook.
If confirmed by the Senate, Kapur will replace Donald Lu, who is stepping down following the transition to the new administration. In the interim, Eric Meyer continues to oversee the region as the senior official.
Kapur’s nomination signals a strategic shift in U.S. foreign policy, positioning India as a key regional partner while adopting a firmer stance toward Islamabad.
