Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs

Assistant Secretary Richard A. Boucher heads the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs, which deals with U.S. foreign policy and U.S. relations with the countries of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.
Secretary's Travel to India New Delhi, India Secretary Rice (Oct. 4): " [W]e both have a lot to be pleased about, particularly that I think we are executing the vision of Prime Minister Singh and President Bush for closer and deeper relations between the United States and India. ... [T]his relationship goes very much beyond the civil nuclear power agreement. ... [W]e are also putting this good relationship to use globally."Full Text | Trip Page
U.S.-India Agreement for Cooperation Concerning Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy October 2, 2008 Secretary Rice: "Prime Minister Singh and President Bush’s vision to have this agreement cement and be one of the cornerstones of our relationship, but I just want to take a moment to say that it is not the only element of this relationship. As much as the Civil Nuclear Agreement is a breakthrough, this is also a friendship that is based on values, a friendship that is based on ties, people-to-people ties, including the 80,000 or so Indian students who study in the United States. I know that the U.S.-India Business Council is here representing the varied interests that we have economically with India. It is a relationship that is cultural. It is a relationship that goes very, very deep. So as important as this agreement is, it is a part of a much broader framework for our enduring friendship." Full Text  | Statement on Congressional Approval
United States-Pakistan Strategic Partnership Joint Statement Sept 29, 2008 Deputy Secretary Negroponte and Foreign Minister Qureshi reaffirmed their commitments to a wide-ranging, substantive, and long-term strategic partnership between the United States and Pakistan, which is based on shared values and a common effort to promote enduring peace, security, stability, freedom, and prosperity of Pakistan and of the region.  Both sides exchanged views on ways to deepen their bilateral cooperation and to make the Strategic Dialogue more effective and productive.   Media Note
Fact Sheet: United States-Pakistan Strategic Dialogue Sept. 29, 2008 The United States is committed to a long-term, broad-based partnership with the government and the people of Pakistan.  This partnership is based on the shared interests of the two countries in promoting democracy, peace, security, stability, and prosperity in Pakistan and in South Asia.  Fact Sheet