Obama nominates Indo-American Nisha Biswal as asst secretary for South Asia

[agamdilawari]

WASHINGTON: In a striking development, President Barack Obama on Thursday nominated Nisha Desai Biswal, an accomplished Indian-American administrator, to head the South Asia bureau in the US state department.

When confirmed by the Senate, Desai will become the first person of Indian or even South Asian origin to head the bureau, which oversees US foreign policy and relations with India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Maldives and Bhutan. She is currently the assistant administrator with USAID, which is also headed by an Indian-American, Rajiv Shah.

Desai Biswal's nomination is unprecedented in the sense that the South Asia bureau has always been headed by "all-American" diplomats, although there have been many mid-level staffers who are US-born but are of sub-continental origin. Previous assistant secretaries of the South Asia bureau from the time it was formed in 1991 are Robin Raphel, Karl Inderfurth, Christina Rocca, Richard Boucher, and Robert Blake - in that order.

While the "Af-Pak" portfolio is now largely managed by a special representative (currently, James Dobbins), Desai Biswal's nomination is bound to cause some consternation in Pakistan, whose previous ambassador Hussain Haqqani had once complained about the growing number of Indian-Americans in the Obama administration.

Although no Indian-American appointee has ever been accused of bias in dealing with India-Pakistan issue - if anything, they err on the side of caution - Pakistani misgiving are aired frequently in their media. But both Desai Biswal and Rajiv Shah, her boss at USAID, have won accolades for their work in Pakistan, which has a larger American aid program than India.

The White House announcement said the President intended to nominate Nisha Desai Biswal as assistant secretary of state for "South Asian Affairs," although in the State Department it is formally known as "Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs" dealing also with the five Central Asian "stans" - Kazakhstan, Kirghiztan, Tajkistan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistans. The South Asia bureau itself was originally carved out from what was the Nearest Eastern and South Asian Affairs bureau, with the Central Asian countries added to it some years back.

Desai Biswal's nomination came along with seven appointments for various senior administration posts at the undersecretary, assistant secretary and ambassadorship levels, accompanied by a Presidential statement saying, "It gives me great confidence that such dedicated and capable individuals have agreed to join this Administration to serve the American people. I look forward to working with them in the months and years to come." The date for her confirmation hearing has not been set yet.

Desai Biswal, who is a graduate of the University of Virginia, began her professional career in Washington DC with the American Red Cross in the mid-90s before she joined USAID in her first stint. As a Hill staffer with the US House of Representatives International Relations Committee from 1999 to 2002, she worked extensively with diplomats from the region before doing another stint with the NGO InterAction. From 2005 to 2010, she was the Majority Clerk for the State Department and Foreign Operations Subcommittee on the Committee on Appropriations in the US, a crucial position close to the purse strings of American foreign aid.

Her appointment was met with much delight in the Indian-American community with great approval voiced over social media. Although there have been several other Indian-Americans at the assistant secretary level ( Bobby Jindal, Richard Varma, Karan Bhatia, Suresh Kumar among them), this is the first time an Indian-American is heading the South Asia bureau, a new milestone for the community.

Obama nominates Indian-American Nisha Biswal as assistant secretary of state for South Asia - The Times of India

 

[kalu_miah]

http://www.allvoices.com/contribute...desai-biswal-to-be-us-asst-secretary-of-state

Indian-American Nisha Desai Biswal to be assistant secretary of state
Washington : DC : USA | Oct 18, 2013 at 7:45 AM PDT
BY Nina Rai

Nisha Desai Biswal, an accomplished Indian-American woman administrator has been confirmed by the US Senate as the assistant secretary of state for South and Central Asia on Oct. 16, making her America’s new point person for the region.

Biswal, 45, is the first person of South Asian origin to head the key bureau in the State Department. Currently she is assistant administrator for Asia at theUS Agency for International Development (USAID), since September 2010.

The USAID is headed by Rajiv Shah, another Indian-American in the highest-ranking post in the Obama administration. Biswal will be succeeding incumbent Robert Blake, who has served the post since May 2009.

President Obama nominated Biswal for the top post on July 18, a WH release said. The Senate confirmation means she will be overseeing US foreign policy and relations with India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan.

In a sense Biswal’s nomination is unparalleled as the South Asia bureau has always been led by “all-American” diplomats, although there have been many mid-level staffers who are born in the US but are of sub-continental origin. Bobby JindalRichard BoucherJohn McCain, who rarely praises anyone from the Democratic Party, told Biswal: "I consider you another compelling argument for comprehensive immigration reform."

However, unable to resist a jab at Biswal, the senator added: "Despite your misguided political affiliation, I would like to say that you're a great example to all of us of people who come to this country. I know you were very young, and the opportunities that this country provides."

During the Senate hearing Biswal had told lawmakers that promoting the India-US strategic partnership will be of vital importance for her, if she is confirmed. Asserting that “India's growing economic power makes it a vital anchor for the vision of regional engagement as well as a cornerstone of America's strategic rebalance to Asia,” she said, "If I am confirmed by the Senate, advancing India-US Strategic Partnership will be of paramount importance."

Biswal has been a member of the Congressional-Executive Commission on China since March 2011. From 2005 to 2010, she served as the majority clerk for the State Department and Foreign Operations Subcommittee of the House Appropriations Committee. From 2002 to 2005, she served as the policy and advocacy directorInterAction.

From 1999 to 2002, she worked as professional staff of the US House of Representatives International Relations Committee, where she was responsible for South and Central Asia policy, as well as oversight of the State Department and USAID. Biswal has also worked for the American Red Cross, at the Washington, D.C., headquarters and as an overseas delegate in Armenia, Georgia, and Azerbaijan.

Born to first generation Indian-Americans, Kanu and Lata Desai in 1968, Nisha Biswal draws her inspiration from her parents' saga of emigration from Gujarat, India “to pursue the American Dream and a better life for their children,” which she told lawmakers during the confirmation hearing of her current position on July 21, 2010. Nisha is married to Subrat Biswal, with whom she has two daughters, Safya and Kaya.