World News | India Nixes Pak Allegation New Delhi Responsible for Delaying Appointment of Pak Envoy to US

New Delhi [India], February 3 (ANI): India on Thursday dismissed Pakistan media reports that New Delhi was responsible for the delay in the approval of Masood Khan's appointment as Pakistan's Ambassador to the United States.

Speaking at a weekly media briefing, the External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said, "It is preposterous to blame a third country for the delay in appointment of one country to another."

Also Read | Beijing Winter Olympics 2022: Indian Envoy Not To Attend The Mega Sporting Event; From United States To Australia, Here Is The List of Countries Diplomatically Boycotting The Event.

Masood Khan's nomination was sent to Washington by Pakistan Foreign Office in November last year. Media reports say the US deliberately delayed the approval of Pakistan's ambassador-designate's posting in Washington and sought more time for his approval.

Earlier this week, a US Congressman has raised grave concern about the appointment of Masood Khan as Pakistan's Ambassador to the United States.

Also Read | South Korea’s Working Age Population Predicted to Fall by 3.2 Million During the 2020-2030 Period.

In a letter to US President Joe Biden, Congressman Scott Perry had asked Biden to reject Masood's appointment, stating that Imran Khan's nomination of a bona fide "terrorist sympathiser"

Congressman Perry added that Masood Khan can only be described as a "breathtaking lack of judgment at best," and "a demonstration of Islamabad's unmitigated contempt for the United States at worst."

"While I am encouraged that the State Department has reportedly placed a pause on approving Masood Khan as the new Ambassador from Pakistan, a pause is not enough. I urge you to reject any diplomatic credentials presented to you by Masood Khan and reject any effort by the Government of Pakistan to install this jihadist as Pakistan's Ambassador to the United States," Scott Perry said in his letter to Biden.

Perry said that Masood Khan is a supporter of the terrorist groups Jamaat-e-Islami, as well as Helping Hand for Relief and Development, a group that had no qualms establishing a partnership with the foreign terrorist organisation responsible for the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks.

A US-based think tank also urged Biden to reject Pakistan's appointment of the 'Jihadi-terrorist-sympathizer', Masood Khan, as Pakistan's ambassador to the United States.

Foundation for India and Indian Diaspora Studies (FIIDS), in its press release, said that the diplomatic role of Masood Khan in the United States may open an avenue for access for terrorist organisations to US institutions. (ANI)

(The above story is verified and authored by ANI staff, ANI is South Asia's leading multimedia news agency with over 100 bureaus in India, South Asia and across the globe. ANI brings the latest news on Politics and Current Affairs in India & around the World, Sports, Health, Fitness, Entertainment, & News. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)