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India Today
2 days ago
- Business
- India Today
Meet Paul Kapur: A Pak critic, Trump's Indian-origin South Asia pick
Indian-American academic and strategic affairs expert S Paul Kapur, who has been nominated by the Donald Trump administration for the position of Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs, is a firm backer of strong ties between India and the confirmed, Delhi-born Kapur will become the second US diplomat of Indian descent to oversee the South Asia bureau. A professor in the Department of National Security Affairs at the United States Naval Postgraduate School, Kapur is a harsh critic of Pakistan. Notably, Kapur is also an expert on India-Pakistan security and nuclear the key South Asian Affairs role, Kapur would be tasked with managing diplomatic ties with India and its neighbourhood, including Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan. During his nomination hearing before a Senate committee on Tuesday, Kapur said he couldn't "avoid the feeling of having come full circle". Kapur also shared that he grew up in the US as a thoroughly American kid. He added, he had never imagined that his career would one day bring him back to the place of his birth, a feeling which, he says, is of "having come full circle".The Trump administration had nominated Kapur in February for the post, after Donald Lu completed his term in January this the nomination hearing, Kapur emphasised the importance of a robust US-India relationship in promoting a free and open Indo-Pacific region, which is not dominated by VOWS TO STRENGTHEN US-INDIA TIES, PROMOTE FREE INDO-PACIFIC REGIONadvertisementDuring his nomination hearing, Kapur also pledged to strengthen the US-India strategic partnership and also mentioned his Indian roots."The US 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 said."If confirmed, I will work to further advance US-India relations and put our partnership on course to realise its tremendous promise," he added."Appearing before you, I can't avoid the feeling of having come full circle. I was born in New Delhi, to an Indian father and an American mother. 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 also said. Referring to the recent India-Pakistan military conflict, Kapur said, "South Asia recently avoided a costly conflict, with the Vice President and Secretary Rubio intensely engaged on the issue. If confirmed, I will continue to promote longstanding US security interests with India and Pakistan through the pursuit of peace and stability, and the fight against terrorism (sic)."advertisement"If confirmed, I will pursue security cooperation with Pakistan where it is in America's interest, while seeking opportunities for bilateral collaboration in trade and investment," he IS S PAUL KAPUR?Kapur was part of the US State Department's policy planning team on South Asia during Trump's first term as President between 2020 and is an accomplished scholar and author of several books specialising in South Asian is also a visiting fellow at Stanford University's Hoover Institution. Previously, he taught at Claremont McKenna College and was a visiting professor at Stanford University, according to his bio on the Naval College research and teaching interests include "the international security environment in South Asia and the Indo-Pacific, nuclear weapons proliferation, deterrence, and Islamist militancy", according to Kapur's profile on the ORF, the New Delhi-based the notable books Kapur has authored are 'Jihad as Grand Strategy: Islamist Militancy', 'National Security and the Pakistani State and Dangerous Deterrent: Nuclear Weapons Proliferation and Conflict in South Asia'.The Indian-American is involved in consultancy and engagement initiatives for the US Department of Defence and also participates in the US-India Track 1.5 dialogue focused on defence earned his PhD from the University of Chicago and holds a BA from Amherst College, Massachusetts, US.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
'Where beneficial to US interests': Indian-origin Paul Kapur, Trump's nominee for South Asia, on his vision about relationship with Pakistan
Indian-origin Paul Kapur told Senate what his vision is about US's future ties with India and Pakistan, if he gets confirmed. Paul Kapur, Donald Trump's Indian-origin pick for the role of assistant secretary of state for South and Central Asia, told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee that he would pursue security cooperation with Pakistan where beneficial to US interests. On India, Kapur said US and India share a host of common interests, including both of their commitment to ensure a free and open Indo-Pacific region, "which is not dominated by China". "If confirmed, I will work to further advance US-India relations and put our partnership on course to realize its tremendous promise," Kapur said. "On Pakistan, if confirmed, I will pursue security cooperation where beneficial to US interests, while seeking opportunities for bilateral collaboration in trade and investment," he said. "South Asia recently avoided a costly conflict, with the Vice President and Secretary Rubio intensely engaged on the issue. If confirmed, I will continue to promote longstanding US security interests with India and Pakistan through the pursuit of peace and stability, and the fight against terrorism," he said on India-Pakistan relations before elaborating on his vision about what he would do with other countries, diplomatically. 'I visited India often during my childhood' Paul Kapur also spoke about his Indian origin at the Senate meeting and said he was born in New Delhi to an Indian father and an American mother. "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. But I became interested in studying the region in graduate school and soon was working on it as a scholar and as a government official," he said. Paul Kapur would succeed Donald Lu pending Senate confirmation. He is a professor in the Department of National Security Affairs at the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School and a visiting fellow at Stanford University's Hoover Institution. Kapur has also been affiliated with Stanford's Center for International Security and Cooperation and the Observer Research Foundation in New Delhi. From 2020 to 2021, he served on the U.S. State Department's Policy Planning Staff, focusing on South and Central Asia, Indo-Pacific strategy, and US-India relations.
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First Post
2 days ago
- Politics
- First Post
Indian-American Paul Kapur, Trump's pick for key South Asia role, vows to focus on US-India ‘partnership'
During his nomination hearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Kapur stressed that he would pursue a security and strategic partnership with India read more Kapur has written several books and articles about South Asia's security environment and US policy in the region. Paul Kapur, US President Donald Trump's nominee for a key role in South Asia, has highlighted that India and the United States share mutual goals, including maintaining a free and open Indo-Pacific region free from Chinese dominance. He also stressed the need to boost trade, enhance technology sharing, and improve energy access between the two nations. Kapur has been nominated for the role of Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs, a top diplomatic position that caters for US interests vis-a-vis India and its neighbourhood — including Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD On June 10, during his nomination hearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Kapur stressed that he would pursue a security and strategic partnership with India, keeping in mind the best interests of America. He said he would 'pursue security cooperation where it is beneficial to the US interest, seeking opportunities for bilateral collaboration in trade and investment". 'If confirmed, I will work to further advance US-India relations and put our partnership on course to realise its tremendous promise,' he added. 'We will promote long-standing security interests with India, Pakistan through the pursuit of peace and stability and fight against terrorism," Kapur said. More about Paul Kapur In February 2025, President Trump nominated Paul Kapur for Assistant Secretary of State for South Asian Affairs. If confirmed, Kapur would replace Donald Lu, whose term ended on January 17, 2025. Renowned for his research on South Asian security and nuclear policy, Kapur is a professor in the Department of National Security Affairs at the US Naval Postgraduate School. He has also significantly influenced US foreign policy on South and Central Asia. Kapur earned his BA from Amherst College and his PhD from the University of Chicago. According to some media reports, Kapur has authored several influential works on South Asian security, nuclear policy, and international relations. His books include Jihad as Grand Strategy: Islamist Militancy, National Security, and the Pakistani State (Oxford University Press, 2016), Dangerous Deterrent: Nuclear Weapons Proliferation and Conflict in South Asia (Stanford University Press, 2007), India, Pakistan, and the Bomb: Debating Nuclear Stability in South Asia (Columbia University Press, 2010), and The Challenges of Nuclear Security: US and Indian Perspectives (Palgrave MacMillan, 2024).
News18
2 days ago
- Politics
- News18
Who Is Paul Kapur? Trump's Indian-Origin Pick As Key Diplomat For South Asian Affairs
Last Updated: Paul Kapur is a South Asia security expert and professor at the US Naval Postgraduate School, known for his work on nuclear policy and regional strategy. Paul Kapur, US President Donald Trump's nominee for South Asia, said India and the United States share common interests like a free and open Indo-Pacific, which is not dominated by China, along with expanding trade, tech sharing, and access to energy. Speaking at an event, Trump's Indian-origin nominee also said that he would 'pursue security cooperation where it is beneficial to the US interest, seeking opportunities for bilateral collaboration in trade and investment". 'We will promote long-standing security interests with India, Pakistan through the pursuit of peace and stability and fight against terrorism," Kapur said. WHO IS PAUL KAPUR? Security expert Paul Kapur was nominated by Trump as the Assistant Secretary of State for South Asian Affairs in February this year. If his nomination is confirmed, Kapur would succeed Donald Lu, who completed his term on January 17, 2025. Paul Kapur is known for his extensive research on South Asian security and nuclear policy, and works as a professor in the Department of National Security Affairs at the US Naval Postgraduate School. Additionally, Paul also played a key role in shaping US foreign policy on South and Central Asia. Kapur studied for his BA at Amherst College and did his PhD at the University of Chicago. According to some media reports, Kapur has authored multiple influential publications on South Asian security, nuclear policy, and international relations. His books include Jihad as Grand Strategy: Islamist Militancy, National Security, and the Pakistani State (Oxford University Press, 2016), Dangerous Deterrent: Nuclear Weapons Proliferation and Conflict in South Asia (Stanford University Press, 2007), India, Pakistan, and the Bomb: Debating Nuclear Stability in South Asia (Columbia University Press, 2010), and The Challenges of Nuclear Security: US and Indian Perspectives (Palgrave MacMillan, 2024). Get breaking news, in-depth analysis, and expert perspectives on everything from geopolitics to diplomacy and global trends. Stay informed with the latest world news only on News18. Download the News18 App to stay updated!
