US Congressman Scott Perry has written a letter to President Joe Biden opposing the appointment of Masood Khan as next Pakistan’s ambassador. The United States has already banned the appointment stating possible terror links that Masood Khan holds. He was the former Azad Jammu Kashmir (Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir/ AJK) president.
In his letter, Perry urged the president to reject the credentials assigned to Masood Khan and stated that a temporary ‘pause’ would not suffice. Khan is a “jihadi, bona fide terrorist sympathiser, dishonest and an unfair individual,” according to Perry.
He asserts that Khan seeks to harm US interests as well as threatens the security of Indian allies. In the letter, he also picked up incidents that suggest Khan’s possible terrorist connection. There are instances from his journey that clearly show that he has been a strong advocate of several terrorist groups and allies.
Who is Masood Khan?
A Pashtun diplomat and a native of Azad Kashmir, Khan served as the namesake President of Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir’s for the period between August 2016 to August 2021. He was selected to be Pakistan’s ambassador in the US, succeeding Asad Majeed Khan, who recently finished his term.
Since 1980, Khan has worked for the ministry of foreign affairs in various positions until being appointed as the president of AJK. From August 2003 to March 2005, he was a spokesperson of the ministry.
Later he served as Pakistan's ambassador and permanent representative in the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland, from 2005 to 2008 where he was appointed as the head of several forums. Between 2008 and 2012, he served as Pakistan's ambassador to China, and between 2012 and 2015, he served as Pakistan's permanent representative to the United Nations in New York.
According to National Review, Khan is a “dangerous extremist, who has a long history of cooperating with Jihadists”. His coming into power, it said, represents a dangerous Pakistani regime that seeks to strengthen Islamic radicals across the world, particularly in the United States.
Khan has been labelled as a longstanding supporter of Islamist terrorism and Taliban allies. Burhan Wani, a deceased Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist, was called “Kashmir's most beloved freedom fighter” by him. There have also been official press releases sent out from his office that backed many other terrorist groups and individuals.
Khan was also seen attending various events sharing a stage with individuals who were designated as terrorists by international agencies, pictures supporting the claim have surfaced online.
Excerpts from speeches that he gave in Jamaat-e-Islami events and rallies show that he paid tribute to Jamaat Islami activists for playing a crucial role in Pakistan and AJK. Jamaat-e-Islami is a violent Islamic movement that has assisted the Pakistani military in carrying out acts of genocide.
Khan has also posted pictures with Ghazala Habib who leads Friends of Kashmir, a group that is openly aligned with jihadist causes.
