Assistant Secretaries of State for South and Central Asian Affairs

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Notice posted on January 12, 2024.
Last updated March 14, 2024.

Section 122 of the Foreign Relations Authorization Act for Fiscal Years 1992 and 1993 (P.L. 102-138; 105 Stat. 658) authorized the appointment of an Assistant Secretary of State for South Asian Affairs on October 28, 1991. The Bureau of South Asian Affairs was established Aug 24, 1992, and is responsible for relations with India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan, Afghanistan, and the Maldive Islands.

Robin Lynn Raphel (1993–1997)
Karl Frederick Inderfurth (1997–2001)
Christina B. Rocca (2001–2006)
Richard A. Boucher (2006–2009)
Robert Orris Blake Jr. (2009–2013)
Nisha Desai Biswal (2014–2017)
James P. Covey (Nomination not acted upon by the Senate. Edward P. Djerejian served as Acting Assistant Secretary, Aug 24, 1992-Mar 30, 1993.)
Robert Williams (Nomination of January 3, 2019 withdrawn by the president on April 11, 2019..)