USA reportedly place on hold the appointment of Masood Khan as Pakistan’s Ambassador to United States citing terror links

The US State Department has reportedly placed a pause on approving Masood Khan as the new Ambassador of Pakistan to the United States. US Congressman Scott Perry has written to President John Biden to reject the diplomatic credentials presented by Mr Masood Khan.

If the appointment is rejected by Biden, it will be a huge embarrassment to the Imran Khan government which is already isolated internationally and is trying to gain favour from West.  Congressman Perry has written that Imran Khan’s nomination of Masood Khan, a bonafide terror sympathizer,  as Ambassador Designate undermines US interests in South Asia. Masood Khan has praised both terrorists and foreign terrorist organizations – including Hizbul Mujahideen and also supported jihadists like Burhan Wani in Jammu and Kashmir.

Masood Khan had also spoken out against United States when USA sanctioned terror organisations and its heads and also was vocal in supporting release of Aafia Siddiqui during the hostage crisis in Texas Synagogue. Pakistan nominating a terror sympathizer to an important diplomatic assignment in US when the bilateral relations are not going smoothly is either a ploy to raise Kashmir bogey again with US government or a miscalculation by Imran Khan and his Army Chief which has been a norm in Pak’s approach to its foreign policy.