ISLAMABAD: The Foreign Office on Tuesday issued a clarification regarding the delay in the appointment of Masood Khan as Pakistan's envoy to the US, saying the agreement was being processed in the US system.
Responding to mediapersons' queries about reports made by the Indian media on Pakistan's decision to appoint Sardar Masood Khan as ambassador to the US, Foreign Office spokesperson Asim Iftikhar said it was a widespread attempt to defame Pakistan and its people. It is a part of the Indian propaganda campaign. Represent Pakistan by using fake news to make scandalous claims and baseless allegations.
The FO spokesperson said that Masood Khan is a highly skilled diplomat with over 40 years of experience in both multilateral and bilateral diplomacy.
Khan was named as ambassador to the US in November. He will replace Dr Asad Majeed Khan who is currently leading the country's mission in Washington since 2019.
Masood Khan was appointed as the 27th President of Azad Kashmir in 2016 by former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. He was replaced by PTI's barrister Sultan Mahmood Chowdhury after the AJK elections in August 2021.
He was a career diplomat, having served in the Ministry of External Affairs in various capacities since 1980 before being promoted as the President of the AJK.
A vocal and strong advocate of Kashmir's accession to Pakistan, Masood effectively exposed the sufferings of oppressed Kashmiris, guaranteeing an effective strategy to end the never-ending holocaust.
The former president of the AJK also served as the spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs from August 2003 to March 2005, before becoming Pakistan's ambassador and permanent representative to the United Nations and international organizations in Geneva, Switzerland from 2005 to 2008.
He was also Pakistan's Ambassador to China during the period September 2008 and September 2012 and Permanent Representative to the United Nations, New York between October 11, 2012 and February 7, 2015.