Paul Kapur has been sworn in as the Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs, marking a significant appointment within the Biden administration.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Indian-American security expert Paul Kapur has officially been sworn in as the Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs. This appointment is seen as a pivotal move for the Biden administration regarding its focus on the region.
The State Department’s Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs announced Kapur’s swearing-in on October 22 via a post on X, stating, “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.”
Kapur takes over the role from Donald Lu, who served as Assistant Secretary from September 2021 until January 2025. His extensive background includes a tenure on the State Department’s Policy Planning Staff from 2020 to 2021, where he focused on issues pertinent to South and Central Asia, the Indo-Pacific strategy, and India-U.S. relations.
In addition to his government service, Kapur is a visiting fellow at the Hoover Institution and a professor at the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California. His academic and professional experiences have positioned him as a key figure in U.S. diplomatic efforts in the region.
Kapur was confirmed by the Senate in early October, alongside the new U.S. Ambassador to India, Sergio Gor. During his Senate confirmation hearing in June, he expressed a sense of personal fulfillment in his new role, stating, “My career has come full circle,” reflecting on his academic studies of the region and his current diplomatic responsibilities.
Born in New Delhi to an Indian father and an American mother, Kapur shared his unique perspective on his upbringing. “Although I visited India often during my childhood, I grew up in the United States as a thoroughly American kid, never imagining that my career would someday return me to the place where I was born,” he remarked.
On the topic of U.S.-India relations, Kapur emphasized the shared interests between the two nations. “The United States and India share a host of common interests: ensuring a free and open Indo-Pacific region, which is not dominated by China; expanding bilateral trade; building our economic relationship so that it is more symmetrical and profitable; facilitating technology sharing and innovation; and ensuring access to the energy necessary to fuel our economies,” he noted.
Regarding Pakistan, he indicated a willingness to engage in security cooperation when it aligns with U.S. interests. His approach reflects the bureau’s critical role in shaping U.S. policy on security, economic engagement, counterterrorism, and infrastructure development across the broader South and Central Asia region.
Kapur’s appointment is expected to influence U.S. strategies and relationships in South and Central Asia, particularly as the region continues to evolve in the context of global geopolitical dynamics.
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