S Paul Kapur bats for 'free and open' South Asia in US Congress testimony

S Paul Kapur, Assistant Secretary, Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs, testified to the US Congress on February 11.  Kapur delved into the Trump Administration's South Asia Policy.

Kapur laid down the key US priorities in the region and said that his focus would be on expanding trade relationships with South Asian nations, along with increasing defence co-operation and targeted investment. He also emphasised the need for diplomacy and help for regional partners to build strategic capacity.

In

addition, Kapur described Pakistan as “another important partner” (along with India) in the region. He spoke of “working to realise the potential of critical mineral resources” & counterterrorism cooperation that helps combat Pakistan's internal threats and Pakistan-based transnational terror threats.

Kapur also spoke of the importance of a “free and open” South Asia region.
This is the language of the Indo-Pacific policy and suggests some continuity with the Trump 1 and Biden administrations.

Also Read: How Paul Kapur, Donald Trump's man in South and Central Asia, views Pakistan and India-US ties

Who Is Paul Kapur?

Paul Kapur, an Indian-American security expert born in New Delhi to an Indian father and American mother, was sworn in on October 22, 2025, as the U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs, succeeding Donald Lu. This senior State Department role oversees U.S. diplomacy and policy across South and Central Asia, including key countries such as India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Maldives, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.

Kapur is on leave from the US Naval Postgraduate School, where he was a professor of national security affairs, and was previously a visiting fellow at the Hoover Institution. He also served on the State Department’s Policy Planning Staff, focusing on South and Central Asia and Indo-Pacific strategy.

He is the author of books including Jihad as Grand Strategy and Dangerous Deterrent, and his work spans nuclear policy, Islamist militancy and regional security. Kapur has led US–India Track 1.5 strategic dialogues and is known for a sceptical view of Pakistan’s use of militant groups, arguing Islamabad’s strategy historically includes support for such actors.

During his Senate confirmation, he emphasised strengthening India–U.S. ties, advancing cooperation on trade, technology, and regional security, and pursuing security cooperation with Pakistan only where it serves U.S. interests.