Paul Kapur, nominated for the president of the United States, Donald Trump, for the assistant secretary of Asia Sur and Central, on Tuesday told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee that would prioritize security cooperation with Pakistan where he aligns with the interests of the United States.
He also expressed the intention of exploring opportunities to improve bilateral collaboration in commerce and investment,
He previously served in the policy planning personnel of the State Department during Trump’s first mandate, where he played a role in the configuration of the US strategy in southern Asia.
Kapur, an academic of Indian origin, recognized the volatility of the region, referring to the recent climb between India and Pakistan. He said the crisis was avoided by little due to “intense commitment” by the vice president of the United States, JD Vance, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
“If confirmed, I will look for security cooperation with Pakistan where he is interested in the United States,” says Paul Kapur who will become Trump’s main diplomat in South Asia pic.twitter.com/awwjh9k8kh
– Shank Mattoo (@mattooshank) June 10, 2025
In Pakistan, he said that if confirmed, “it would seek security cooperation where it is beneficial for the interests of the United States while looking for opportunities for bilateral collaboration in trade and investment.”
He pointed out that “South Asia recently avoided an expensive conflict with Vice President Vance and the Rubio Secretary intensely involved in the issue.”
He added: “If confirmed, I will continue to promote the security interests of the United States with India and Pakistan through the search for peace and stability and the fight against terrorism.”
These tensions between the two counties intensified after an attack in the Jammu and Kashmir (Iiojk) occupied by India, which killed 26 people.
India quickly blamed Pakistan, but without presenting evidence. Islamabad denied Indian statements and requested an independent investigation. India took hostile measures, including the suspension of the Water Treaty of the 65 -year -old (IWT), stopping the trade and the closure of border crossings, while taking reprisals against the alleged attack.
In response, Pakistan made reciprocal measures, including trade arrest and the closure of his airspace to Indian airplanes. The situation intensified quickly when missile attacks and air attacks shook both nations, which resulted in dozens of victims.
After a military confrontation, the United States announced a high fire on May 10. President Trump later wrote in Truth Social: “I will work with you, both to see if, after” a thousand years “, you can reach a solution with respect to Kashmir.”
READ MORE: Pakistan and India agree the high immediate fire
Despite its commitment to regional balance, Kapur’s previous scholarship has generated criticism in Pakistan. His book Dangerous deterrence and academic work, including The unstable peace of India and PakistanThey have been seen as a reflection of a bias, with repeated suggestions that Pakistan instigates instability in the region.
Kapur promised to focus on practical diplomacy. “If confirmed, I will support the efforts to bring home to the Americans detained in Afghanistan and work to prevent the country from becoming a terrorism pitcher again,” he said.
The Senate is expected to vote on Kapur’s nomination at the end of this month.
READ: ‘Indian aggression has consequences’
Paul Kapur will assume the position of Secretary of State for South Affairs and Central Asians, a role previously played by Donald Lu. Lu had been the subject of scrutiny after the accusations of former Pakistani prime minister and founder of PTI Imran Khan.
Khan accused Lu of being involved in a “foreign conspiracy” that, according to him, led to his removal of the position through a vote of non -confidence in April 2022.
In an interview with Becky Anderson by CNN, Khan claimed that Lu used a threatening language during an official meeting with the Pakistan ambassador. “On March 7 … Undersecretary of State for the United States responsible for southern Asia, he tells our ambassador to an official meeting [with] Keep in mind that the policyholders on both sides, unless they get rid of their prime minister, Pakistan will suffer consequences, ”said Khan.
He added that Lu should be fired by “bad manners and pure arrogance.”
