Dhaka, Oct. 8 -- Paul Kapur, a distinguished Indian-origin academic, has been appointed as the new US assistant secretary of state for South and Central Asian Affairs, a key diplomatic post overseeing relations with countries including India and Bangladesh.

The US Senate Committee on Foreign Relations approved his nomination on Tuesday, following his selection by President Donald Trump in February.

Kapur is the second individual of Indian descent to hold this top diplomatic role for the South Asian region, succeeding Nisha Desai Biswal, who previously served as the assistant secretary of state for South and Central Asian Affairs.

He is a professor in the Department of National Security Affairs at the United States Naval Postgraduate Sc...