Sardar Masood Khan

Hailing from Rawalakot area of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Sardar Masood Khan has been elected as 23rd President of Azad Jammu and Kashmir on 16th Augest 2016. Prior to this, a career diplomat, Masood Khan has served as the Director General of the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad. He was also the Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the United Nations in New York until Feb 07, 2015.

Previously, beginning in September 2008, he was Pakistan's Ambassador to China. Before that he was the ambassador and permanent representative of Pakistan to the United Nations Office at Geneva from 2005 to 2008. He also stayed as the chairman of the Committee on Internet Governance at the World Summit on the Information Society in 2005.

Masood Khan joined the Foreign Service of Pakistan in 1980. His foreign assignments include; Third Secretary in Beijing (1984–1986), Second Secretary and First Secretary at The Hague (1986–1989) and Counselor at United Nations New York (1993–1997) and Political Counselor in Washington, D.C. (1997–2002).

His assignments at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs include; section officer for Europe, Iran and South Asian countries (1980–1982), director for Economic Cooperation Organization, Overseas Pakistanis and International Conferences (1990–1991), director for Secretary General's office (1991–1992), director-general for East Asia and Pacific (2002–2003), director-general for United Nations, Disarmament, and Organisation of the Islamic Conference (2003–2004) and spokesman for Pakistan Foreign Office (2003–2005).

Masood Khan was appointed as Pakistan's permanent representative to United Nations Office at Geneva in February 2005. During this time, he stayed as chairman for many forums including International Organization for Migration Council, Group of 77 and China at Geneva, Government Group of International Labour Organization (ILO), Conference on Disarmament and Organisation of the Islamic Conference at Geneva.

In September 2008, Masood Khan was appointed as Pakistan's Ambassador to People's Republic of China replacing Salman Bashir who proceeded as Foreign Secretary at Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In October 2012, he was appointed as Pakistan's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, New York.