AJK President: Profile of newly elected President
Shares
ISLAMABAD: (APP) Masood Khan has been elected as President of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) who is considered an expert in multilateral diplomacy with special regard to Kashmir issue.
Following is a detailed bio-data of newly elected President of AJK:-Born and studied in Rawalakot, Poonch district of AJK, Masood Khan has worked with the United Nations in New York and Geneva and other multilateral forums for more than twenty years.
He became President of the UN Security Council in January 2013.
He served as Chairman of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation in Geneva, where he also represented, as Chairman of the Group of 77 and China, 131 developing countries in various international organizations.
Over the years, he has also specialized in multilateral diplomacy and important bilateral relationships, especially with China and the United States.
Areas of his specialization include Kashmir, South Asia, Pak-China relations, Pak-US relations, nuclear diplomacy and internet governance.
Khan worked hard in the United Nations and the capitals of various countries to build support for the realization of the right to self-determination for the people of Indian Occupied Kashmir (IOK).
During his tenure as Permanent Representative to the United Nations he reached out to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, the UN Security Council and the UN General Assembly and UN Human Rights Council to persuade them to fulfill the UN's promise to help decide occupied Kashmir's political future through a fair, just and democratic dispensation.
In August 2013, he helped in organizing the UN Secretary General Ban's first official visit to Islamabad during which the Secretary General had, inter alia, detailed talks on the Kashmir with Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif.
On that occasion, the Secretary General offered his mediation and good offices to India and Pakistan subject to their concurrence.
Khan assisted the Prime Minister in 2013 and 2014 to raise the Kashmir issue at the United Nations.
Earlier, as a delegate, for years, Khan highlighted in the UN General Assembly, the Third Committee, and the Human Rights Commission the massive, gross and consistent human rights violations in India Occupied Kashmir against the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
In this endeavour, he received scores of delegations of political leadership and human rights activists from both Azad Kashmir and IOK for their participation in the UN and other international forums.
During his five year stint in Washington D.C., he worked to urge US lawmakers and administration to help Kashmiris secure their freedom and liberty.
He spoke widely on the Kashmir issue at American universities and think tanks; and to the international media.
In the past one year, he has been talking to multiple Pakistani and Kashmiri audiences at the seminars and conferences in universities and think tanks about ways and means to re-energize and re-strategize Kashmir movement to achieve results.
Khan has a track record of effective international leadership in diverse matters encompassing peace and security, nuclear diplomacy, prevention of proliferation of biological weapons, social and economic development, internet governance, migration, and international humanitarian law.
He is also known as a respected diplomat and negotiator of international standing in the UN, the Islamic world, the Western countries and China. He is known in the international community for his refined and result-oriented diplomatic skills.
He is an accomplished speaker both in English and Urdu languages.
He studied the Chinese language from a Chinese university and has served in China for eight years to promote Pakistan-China relations.
Last year, President Xi Jinping conferred on him the highest Chinese award for promoting Pakistan-China friendship.
Over the years, he has worked on Pakistan-China projects on infrastructure, energy, construction and industrial development including in Azad Kashmir.
Khan was a lecturer in English in the 1970. During that period he was also a TV anchor; and a newscaster.
Khan remained Pakistan's Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations. In this capacity, he represented Pakistan as a non-permanent member in the UN Security Council, and he was the President of the UN Security council in January 2103.
He served as Pakistan's Ambassador to the People's Republic of China from September 2008 to September 2012.
He remained posted as Pakistan's Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations and other International Organizations in Geneva from 2005 to 2008.
Khan also worked as Pakistan's Sherpa (Chief Negotiator) for the Nuclear Security Summit (NSS) process from 2009 to early 2014.
He retired from the Foreign Service of Pakistan in BPS-22.
Other posts he held in Islamabad and abroad; he worked as Director General (United Nations) and Director General (OIC) at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs from August 2003 to March 2005.
He served as Director General (Disarmament) from September 2003 to May 2004.
In June 2003, he was appointed as Spokesman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, a position he held till March 2005.
He worked as Director General (East Asia and Pacific) from November 2002 to August 2003.
Khan also worked, in various positions, in Pakistan's diplomatic missions in Beijing (1982 to 1986), The Hague (1986 to 1989), the United Nations New York (1993 to 1997) and Washington DC (1997 to 2002).
Besides, various leadership positions he held in multilateral and intergovernmental forums include: - President of the Conference on Disarmament - 2005 - Chairman of the Committee on the Internet Governance of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) - 2005 - Chairman of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) Council - 2005-2006 - President of the 6th Review Conference of the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC) - 2006 - Chairman of the BWC States Parties Meeting - 2007 - Chairman of the Group of 77 and China, Geneva - 2005-2006 - Chairman of the Governmental Group in the International Labour Organization (ILO) - 2006-2007 - Chairman of the International Labour Conference (ILC) Reform Committee - 2007-2008 - Chairman of the Drafting Committee of the 30th International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent 2007.
President of the UN Security Council January 2013 - Co-Chair of the Friends of the Group on Sustainable Energy for All - Vice President of the UN Economic and Social Council 2013- Vice President of the UNICEF Executive Board 2014 - President UNICEF Executive Board Khan has attended many UN conferences and summits as delegate, representative and leader.
He has spoken widely at various national and international forums, think tanks and universities on international affairs, strategic issues, economic development, energy, nuclear security and disarmament.
