Whereas the following US Ambassador to India is but to be named, Indian-American S Paul Kapur is President Donald Trump’s nominee for the place of Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs, a prime diplomatic place whereby he’ll oversee America’s intersections with India and its neighbourhood — together with Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan.
If confirmed, Kapur will step into the footwear of Donald Lu, who accomplished his time period in January this 12 months, holding cost of probably the most complicated, delicate, and risky areas on the earth. For the Indian institution, although, which is repeatedly seeking to broaden and strengthen its ties with the US in crucial areas comparable to defence, know-how and science, and is on the cusp of signing a bilateral commerce settlement, Kapur will develop into a key interlocutor. The US additionally banks on India to offset China’s dominance within the Indo-Pacific.
So it could be pertinent that on June 10, throughout his nomination listening to earlier than the Senate Overseas Relations Committee, Kapur started by touching upon his Indian roots and likewise laid out the India-US partnership agenda. “If confirmed, I’ll work to additional advance US-India relations and put our partnership on target to grasp its great promise,” he mentioned.
“The US and India share a bunch of widespread pursuits: guaranteeing a free and open Indo-Pacific area, which isn’t dominated by China; increasing bilateral commerce, constructing our financial relationship in order that it’s extra symmetrical and worthwhile; facilitating know-how sharing and innovation; and guaranteeing entry to the vitality essential to gasoline our economies,” Kapur added.
Stating that he couldn’t “keep away from the sensation of getting come full circle”, Kapur — born in New Delhi to an Indian father and an American mom — mentioned he grew up within the US as “a completely American child”, by no means imagining that my profession would sometime return me to the place the place I used to be born.
“Showing earlier than this committee at the moment actually does return me to my starting,” he said.
Referring to the current India-Pakistan hostilities, Kapur mentioned, “South Asia lately prevented a expensive battle, with the Vice President (JD Vance) and Secretary (Marco) Rubio intensely engaged on the difficulty. If confirmed, I’ll proceed to advertise longstanding US safety pursuits with India and Pakistan by way of the pursuit of peace and stability, and the struggle in opposition to terrorism.”
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On Pakistan particularly, he mentioned that he would pursue safety cooperation “the place useful to US pursuits, whereas looking for alternatives for bilateral collaboration in commerce and funding”.
Within the presence of his spouse and three of his 5 youngsters, Kapur mentioned through the listening to that he visited India usually throughout his childhood however grew to become fascinated by learning the area in graduate faculty and has labored on it (the area) as a scholar and as a authorities official.
Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal, Maldives, and Bhutan are necessary for stability within the Indo-Pacific area, Kapur mentioned on the listening to, including that Sri Lanka and Maldives are situated alongside main oceanic commerce routes, whereas Bangladesh boasts the most important financial system within the area after India. “If confirmed, I’ll advocate for enhanced US cooperation with these nations to bolster our safety, counterbalance China’s affect, and broaden commerce,” he mentioned.
On Afghanistan, he mentioned he would assist President Trump and Secretary Rubio in bringing dwelling “the remaining detained Individuals”, including that he’ll work to make sure that the nation by no means once more turns into a launching pad for terrorism threatening the homeland.
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Kapur has written a number of books and articles about South Asia’s safety surroundings and US coverage within the area, taught navy officers in regards to the area, led US-India strategic engagement tasks, and has lined South and Central Asia on the State Division’s Coverage Planning Workers.
