Puneet Talwar has been confirmed by the US Senate to a key diplomatic position, becoming the second Indian-American to join the State Department.
Talwar, who was a key aide of President Barack Obama on the Middle East, would now serve as the Assistant Secretary of State for Political-Military Affairs.
He was confirmed yesterday by voice vote.
In September last year Obama nominated Talwar, who played a key role on negotiations with Iran, to this top diplomatic position in the State Department.
After being sworn-in, Talwar would be the second Indian American serving as assistant secretary in the State Department after Nisha Desai Biswal, who is the Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia.
Talwar would provide policy direction in the areas of international security, security assistance, military operations, defence strategy and plans, and defence trade.