WASHINGTON: A senior Trump administration official has told Congress that Pakistan remains an important partner for the United States in South and Central Asia, with Washington seeking to expand trade, economic cooperation and security ties with Islamabad.
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Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia Paul Kapur made the remarks on Wednesday while addressing the House Foreign Affairs Committee’s Subcommittee on South and Central Asia.
“Pakistan is another important partner in the region. We are working together with Pakistan to realise the potential of its critical mineral resources,” Kapur said, adding that combining US government seed financing with private-sector expertise would benefit both countries.
He noted that bilateral trade in energy and agriculture was also expanding and highlighted continued counterterrorism cooperation.
“Our ongoing counter-terrorism cooperation helps Pakistan combat internal security threats while addressing transnational dangers that can harm the US or our partners,” he said.
During the question-and-answer session, lawmakers raised concerns about militancy and Pakistan’s past security policies. Referring to Kapur’s academic work on militancy and national security in Pakistan, one congressman asked whether militant groups from South and Central Asia were operating inside the United States.
Kapur said his book examined Pakistan’s strategy and its interaction with militant groups. He added that, as organised entities, such groups were not known to be operating in the United States, though individual members could potentially be present anywhere.
He cautioned that counterterrorism efforts are complicated by the fact that small numbers of individuals can blend into the broader population, making detection difficult.
The hearing also addressed India’s role in US strategy toward China. Kapur said that a strong and independent India capable of preserving its freedom of action aligned with US strategic interests.
“The broader objective is to prevent China, or any single hegemonic power, from dominating the region,” he said, adding that India’s economic growth, infrastructure development and military capability constrained Beijing’s influence across the Indo-Pacific.
Lawmakers from both parties underscored the importance of sustained US engagement in South Asia. Subcommittee Chairman Bill Huizenga said Washington’s approach must be comprehensive and rooted in strong partnerships, economic engagement and democratic values.
Democratic Representative Sydney Kamlager-Dove referenced recent tensions between India and Pakistan, warning that their most serious military confrontation in decades risked nuclear escalation in a region home to nearly two billion people. She argued that the episode highlighted the critical role of US diplomacy, while criticising President Trump’s public comments about taking credit for a ceasefire and offering to mediate the Kashmir dispute.
Kamlager-Dove also raised concerns about Afghanistan, warning against any move to recognise the Taliban without tangible improvements in the rights of women and girls.
Responding to questions on Afghanistan, Kapur said the United States had begun offering financial assistance to Afghans willing to return home as part of efforts to close Camp As Sayliyah in Qatar, where more than 1,100 Afghans have been housed since early 2025 after US resettlement was halted.
“We are not forcibly repatriating Afghans to Afghanistan. Some have gone of their own volition, but we’re not forcing anybody,” Kapur said, noting that around 150 individuals had accepted the payments, though their status after returning remains unclear.
