WASHINGTON (TIP): US President Barack Obama has nominated Indian- American Puneet Talwar as Assistant Secretary of State for Political Military Affairs, a top diplomatic post. Talwar, who was Obama’s top advisor on the Middle East region for over four years was nominated for the position by Obama yesterday. He is the second Indian-American to be nominated as the Assistant Secretary position in the State Department. In July, Nisha Desai Biswal was nominated as the Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia. Both the positions need to be confirmed by the Senate. Obama announced his intent to nominate Talwar to the top State Department position along with nearly 30 senior administration positions. “I am grateful that these talented and dedicated individuals have agreed to take on these important roles and devote their talents to serving the American people,” Obama said. “I look forward to working with them in the coming months and years,” he added. If confirmed by the Congress, Talwar, in his capacity as the Assistant Secretary of State for Political Military Affairs, will provide policy direction in the areas of international security, security assistance, military operations, defense strategy and plans, and defense trade.