US Assistant Secretary of State Kapoor in Kathmandu

Kathmandu — US Assistant Secretary of State S. Paul Kapur arrived in Kathmandu on Monday morning. This is the first high-level US visit since the formation of the new government led by Prime Minister Balendra (Balen) Shah.

According to sources at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Assistant Secretary of State Kapur is scheduled to meet with Foreign Minister Shishir Khanal and Finance Minister Swarnim Wagle today. However, sources said that meetings with President Ramchandra Paudel and Prime Minister Balen Shah have not yet been finalized. Other meetings have also not been disclosed.

Kapur, considered close to US President Donald Trump, handles South and Central Asian affairs. President Trump removed then-Assistant Secretary of State Donald Lu and appointed Kapur to the position in February 2081 BS.

Kapur was born in India. His father is Indian and his mother is of American origin. He has also served as a professor at the US Naval Postgraduate School and was responsible for South Asian affairs in the State Department’s Policy Planning Staff during the final year of President Trump’s previous term (2020–21). He is considered an expert in South Asian security, nuclear strategy, and international relations, and has conducted research particularly on India-Pakistan relations, terrorism, and regional security. Known as a staunch critic of Pakistan, Kapur is also rumored to have played a role in Pakistan’s mediation efforts to facilitate talks between Iran and the US recently.

This visit by Assistant Secretary of State Kapur is being viewed as significant amidst discussions about the special influence of the US in the formation of the current government. The diplomatic steps taken by the Balen-led government are also gaining attention amid increasing geopolitical competition in South and Central Asia.