Paul Kapur nominated to replace Donald Lu as U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia

Indian-American Paul Kapur has been nominated for the role of U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs. 

The nomination, however, still needs the Senate‍‍`s approval, which is a standard procedure before the position is confirmed. 

This announcement was made public through a notice on the Senate’s official website on Wednesday.

This change comes as Donald Lu, the current holder of the position, steps down following the transition of power in the United States. 

Lu was initially appointed under President Joe Biden’s administration.

The Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs is a key department within the U.S. State Department. 

It oversees diplomatic relations and policies involving several countries, including Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.

Paul Kapur has established himself as an expert on Indian and Pakistani affairs. In his academic career, he has taught at the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School and also served as a visiting professor at Stanford University’s Hoover Institution. 

During Trump’s first term, Kapur worked within the U.S. State Department’s policy planning division.

Kapur is also a noted author with several prominent works to his name. 

Among them are Jihad as Grand Strategy: Islamist Militancy, National Security, and the Pakistani State and Dangerous Deterrent: Nuclear Weapons Proliferation and Conflict in South Asia. 

He co-authored India, Pakistan, and the Bomb: Debating Nuclear Stability in South Asia, another important book focusing on the region.

This is not the first time Trump has appointed Indian-Americans to significant roles within his administration. 

Previously, Kash Patel was appointed as Director of the FBI, and Sriram Krishnan was brought on as Policy Advisor on Artificial Intelligence at the White House.

With these appointments, Trump continues to bring in figures from the Indian-American community, adding diversity to his administration in critical roles.