Who is Indian-origin Paul Kapur, Trump’s pick to replace Donald Lu as US South Asia envoy?

Former President Donald Trump has nominated S. Paul Kapur, an Indian-origin scholar known for his critical stance on Pakistan, to serve as the next Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia. Kapur is set to replace Donald Lu, who managed the region’s diplomatic affairs during the Joe Biden administration.

News of Kapur’s nomination emerged during Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Washington, signifying a possible shift in the U.S. approach towards South Asia, especially regarding policies on India and Pakistan.

Kapur, a proponent of stronger U.S.-India strategic relations, has often criticized Pakistan’s security policies, suggesting his appointment might herald a more stringent stance on Islamabad, as opposed to previous efforts to balance relations between the two South Asian neighbors.

Background on Paul Kapur

Paul Kapur, of Indian origin, is a distinguished expert on South Asian security and a professor in the Department of National Security Affairs at the United States Naval Postgraduate School. He earned a PhD from the University of Chicago and a BA from Amherst College. Prior to his current role, he taught at Claremont McKenna College and was a visiting professor at Stanford University.

Kapur has also contributed to U.S. foreign policy planning. Between 2020 and 2021, he was a member of the State Department’s Policy Planning Staff, where he focused on South and Central Asia, Indo-Pacific security, and U.S.-India relations.

As an academic, Kapur has authored several influential books and research papers on South Asian security, including Jihad as Grand Strategy: Islamist Militancy, National Security, and the Pakistani State and Dangerous Deterrent: Nuclear Weapons Proliferation and Conflict in South Asia.