Trump Appoints Afghan Royal Descendant Bischoping as Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Afghanistan

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In a landmark political appointment, President Donald Trump has named Mary Kabir-Seraj Bischoping as the new Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Afghanistan.

This marks his first political appointment specifically targeting U.S. policy on Afghanistan.

Bischoping, 33, is a Californian of Afghan royal lineage and the great-granddaughter of Queen Soraya Tarzi. Her family, known for its political influence in Afghanistan, fled the country following the 1979 Soviet invasion.

Fluent in Farsi and German, she brings a unique cultural and historical perspective to her new role in the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs.

In her new position, Bischoping will oversee U.S. policy on Afghanistan, a region that continues to challenge American diplomacy and security interests.

A graduate of UCLA and the University of Virginia School of Law, Bischoping has built an impressive career spanning both the executive and legislative branches of the U.S. government.

She previously served as senior counsel to the House Foreign Affairs Committee, where she led critical investigations into the 2021 U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan. Her background also includes legal positions at top law firms and a clerkship on the U.S. Court of Appeals.

Her appointment signals a renewed focus on Afghanistan policy and a potentially significant shift in how the U.S. engages with the region.