Paul Kapur, Nominated To Be Top Diplomat For S.Asia, Is A Fierce Pakistan Critic

India-West News Desk

WASHINGTON, DC – S. Paul Kapur, a scholar known for his critical views on Pakistan’s state-backed militancy and nuclear policy, is expected to be the next U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia. If confirmed by the Senate, he will replace Donald Lu as the top diplomat for the region.

Kapur, a professor at the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School and a fellow at Stanford’s Hoover Institution, has extensively studied South Asian security dynamics, particularly Pakistan’s use of Islamist militant groups as a strategic tool.

His research has argued that Pakistan’s military and intelligence agencies deliberately nurture these groups to challenge India and maintain influence in Afghanistan. His 2016 book, Jihad as Grand Strategy: Islamist Militancy, National Security, and the Pakistani State, describes Pakistan’s militant networks as a calculated policy rather than a symptom of instability.

During the Trump administration, Kapur served on the State Department’s policy planning team, shaping South Asia strategy. His writings have consistently emphasized strengthening India’s military capabilities and warned against the U.S. deepening ties with Pakistan.

In a co-authored essay, he argued that “a strong and genuinely independent India will necessarily impede Chinese efforts to resist hegemony in the Indo-Pacific region.”

Kapur’s appointment is likely to reinforce U.S.-India strategic cooperation, particularly in defense and technology-sharing initiatives, while signaling a tougher U.S. stance on Pakistan’s role in regional instability. His position aligns with India’s concerns over cross-border terrorism and nuclear security, potentially shaping a more favorable geopolitical landscape for New Delhi.

He received his Ph.D. from the University of Chicago and his B.A. from Amherst College.