Trump's nominee for South Asia backs Pakistan ties, stresses peace after India clash

• Paul Kapur to promote US security interests with Pakistan, India.
• On Pakistan-India war, he says region escaped serious conflict.
• Pledges to prevent Afghanistan from becoming terrorism launchpad.

WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump's nominee for Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia Paul Kapur has pledged cooperation with Pakistan in the domain of security, bilateral trade and investment, The News reported on Wednesday.

Kapur, speaking during a confirmation hearing before US Senate, told the body that he would pursue security cooperation with Pakistan while exploring opportunities for bilateral trade and investment collaboration.

"If confirmed, I will continue to promote longstanding US security interests with Pakistan and India through the pursuit of peace and stability, and the fight against terrorism," said Trump's nominee who is a US scholar of Indian origin.

His remarks come against the backdrop of his strong support for deepening the strategic ties between India and the US as well as preventing Afghanistan from becoming a "terrorism launchpad".

"If confirmed, I’ll support efforts to bring home detained Americans in Afghanistan and work to prevent the country from becoming a terrorism launchpad again," he once remarked.

Reflecting on the recent armed conflict between Pakistan and India, he has opined that South Asia narrowly escaped a serious conflict, where US Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio 'intensely engaged' on the issue.

His remarks refer to the 87-hour-long conflict between the two nuclear-armed neighbours — which included cross-border strikes by both countries — in the aftermath of the Pahalgam incident where 26 tourists were killed in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir's (IIOJK) and India falsely blamed Pakistan for the attack.

After the incident, India killed several innocent civilians in unprovoked attacks on Pakistan for three days before the Pakistan Armed Forces retaliated in defence with the successful Operation Bunyan-um-Marsoos.

Pakistan downed dozens of drones and six Indian Air Force jets, including three Rafales. After at least 87 hours, the war between the two nuclear-armed nations ended on May 10 with a ceasefire agreement brokered by the United States.

Since the US-brokered ceasefire — where President Trump played a key role, both Islamabad and New Delhi have undertaken a diplomatic outreach initiative globally to present their respective stance on the recent clashes between the arch-rivals.

For Pakistan, former foreign minister and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardar is leading a nine-member high-level parliamentary delegation across several countries to present to the world Pakistan's stance on the recent military confrontation with India and to challenge New Delhi's narrative at the international level.

The delegation comprising Hina Rabbani Khar, Sherry Rehman, Dr Musadik Malik, Khurram Dastgir Khan, Jalil Abbas Jilani, Tehmina Janjua, Bushra Anjum Butt and Syed Faisal Subzwari is currently in the UK after culminating their US trip where they met several key figures including UN secretary general as well as US lawmakers and officials.

Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts appear to have borne fruit as the US Department of State has ignited hope that President Donald Trump will help resolve the longstanding Kashmir dispute during his tenure in office.

US State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce, while responding to questions concerning a recent meeting between Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs, Allison Hooker and the Bilawal-led diplomatic delegation, highlighted that President Trump went a step further by offering to mediate between Pakistan and India to resolve all outstanding issues, including the core dispute of Kashmir.

Posting on his Truth Social platform, President Trump also wrote about his willingness to work with the two countries if a solution can be arrived at concerning Kashmir. 

Pakistan has welcomed this gesture. However, India has rebuffed the mediation offer, maintaining its long-standing position that Kashmir is a bilateral issue.

Donald Lu's prospective replacement

Kapur's remarks on cooperation with Pakistan hold significance as he will replace Donald Lu as the Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs if confirmed by the US Senate.

It is pertinent to mention that Lu became embroiled in a major controversy stemming from allegations by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder and former prime minister Imran Khan, who accused the US diplomat of playing a role in his removal from office.

Khan, ousted through a parliamentary vote of no confidence led by the now-ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and its political allies in April 2022, alleged that Lu was involved in orchestrating a "foreign conspiracy". 

Trump's key nominee's remarks, however, come after the president praised Pakistani leadership as being "very strong".