S. Paul Kapur, an Indian scholar who has been known for his critics on Pakistan, has been nominated by President Donald Trump to be the next Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia.
At a critical juncture, during Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s trip to Washington, Kapur’s nomination was leaked to the press.
Given this, Kapur’s nomination represents a more significant change in Washington’s South Asia policy, emphasizing New Delhi more and taking a more skeptical view of Islamabad.
His appointment suggests a possible tightening of US policy toward Pakistan, with less involvement in economic and security issues.
As Michael Kugelman, an American scholar of South Asian affairs says “Like others already in the administration, Kapur is a strong backer of the US-India partnership and a harsh critic of Pakistan”.
Kapur, a fellow at Stanford’s Hoover Institution and a professor at the US Naval Postgraduate School, has long maintained that Pakistan’s security strategies depend on “Islamist militancy as a tool of statecraft”.
According to his book Jihad as Grand Strategy, this strategy has since backfired, weakening the Pakistani state, taxing its economy, and inciting an increasingly assertive Indian military posture, even though it previously gave Islamabad strategic power.
A stronger approach on matters like financial aid and diplomatic support for Kashmir could result from his influence at the State Department. Islamabad may face increased pressure to reconsider its tactics or face further diplomatic and economic isolation if his viewpoint influences official US policy.
Donald Lu, who is stepping down after the administration shift, will be replaced by Kapur if the Senate confirms him. Eric Meyer remains the top authority in charge of the area for the time being.
