Bureau of Southern and Central Asian Affairs

In the U.S. Department of State, the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs 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.

It is headed by the Assistant Secretary of State for Southern and Central Asian Affairs, currently Robert O. Blake. There is a Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for South and Central Asian Affairs, Patrick Moon, and a Deputy Assistant Secretary for South and Central Asian Affairs, George Krol.

While the regional ambassadors report to it, special envoys such as Richard Holbrooke report to a more senior level.