New Delhi: US President Donald Trump has put forward SP Kapur, an academic of Indian heritage and a well-known critic of Pakistan, as his nominee for Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia.
Kapurโs selection was revealed to the media at a crucial juncture, aligning with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modiโs diplomatic visit to Washington.
His appointment is seen as a major shift in U.S. foreign policy in the regionโone that strengthens ties with India while adopting a more cautious stance toward Pakistan.
Experts suggest Kapurโs nomination could signal a firmer U.S. approach to Islamabad, with potential reductions in security cooperation and financial assistance.
Michael Kugelman, a noted expert on South Asian affairs, commented, โLike many others in the administration, Kapur is a firm supporter of the U.S.-India alliance and an outspoken critic of Pakistan.โ
A professor at the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School and a research fellow at Stanfordโs Hoover Institution, Kapur has consistently argued that Pakistanโs security strategy depends on โIslamist extremism as an instrument of state policy.โ
His book, Jihad as Grand Strategy, claims that while this approach once provided Islamabad with strategic advantages, it has ultimately weakened the nationโs internal stability, burdened its economy, and intensified Indiaโs military posture.
With Kapur in a key policy role at the State Department, Washington may take a stricter stance on issues like financial aid and diplomatic support concerning Kashmir.
If his views shape U.S. strategy, Pakistan may face growing pressure to reconsider its geopolitical approach or risk further diplomatic and economic isolation.
If confirmed by the Senate, Kapur will succeed Donald Lu, who is stepping down amid the administration change. Until then, Eric Meyer remains the senior official managing the region.
Trump has previously taken a tough line on Pakistan. During his earlier term, he halted financial assistance, stating on January 1, 2018, โThe United States has foolishly given Pakistan more than $33 billion in aid over the last 15 years, and they have given us nothing but lies & deceit.โ He also accused Islamabad of sheltering terrorist groups.
In his current tenure, Trump has temporarily suspended aid to Pakistan for reassessment, a decision that affects U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) projects in the country.
Kapur is widely recognized as a strong advocate of closer U.S.-India strategic collaboration. Christopher Clary, Associate Professor of Political Science at the University at Albany, remarked, โKapur views India as a premier strategic partner for the U.S. He is also skeptical of Washingtonโs emphasis on human rights in India, believing such discussions hinder broader policy objectives.โ
Conversely, Kapur has taken a tougher stance on Pakistan. His academic work suggests that Pakistanโs grand strategic decisions have made it an unusually volatile state. Analysts believe that under Kapurโs influence, the U.S. may adopt a more rigid approach toward Islamabad, shifting away from previous officials who sought to balance ties between the two South Asian rivals.
In a 2021 article titled Significant Shortcomings Alert: Biden is Struggling to Find Success in India, Kapur criticized the Biden administrationโs handling of India, highlighting three main failures:
Strategic Undervaluation โ He argued that ranking India below traditional U.S. treaty allies in policy planning underestimated its significance.
Human Rights Focus โ He viewed former Defense Secretary Lloyd Austinโs emphasis on human rights during a New Delhi visit as a diplomatic miscalculation that could hinder defense cooperation.
Lack of Continuity with Trumpโs Strategy โ Kapur believed the Biden administration did not adequately acknowledge or build upon Trumpโs policies in Asia, particularly concerning India.
How Kapurโs Appointment Could Reshape U.S.-Pakistan Relations
Kapurโs nomination suggests Washington is moving toward a more assertive policy on South Asiaโone that deepens strategic cooperation with India while placing new constraints on Pakistan.
His critical stance on Islamabadโs security policies, combined with Trumpโs existing skepticism of Pakistan, could lead to stricter conditions on financial aid and military cooperation.
If this trajectory holds, the U.S. may push Pakistan into a more challenging diplomatic position, forcing it to recalibrate its regional strategies or risk further isolation on the global stage.
