Khan was born in Rawalakot, Poonch District of Azad Kashmir to Sudhan family. When he was in his twenties, he worked as a TV newscaster in English.[6]
Khan holds a master's degree in English and joined the Foreign Service of Pakistan in 1980.[3] His foreign assignments include: Third Secretary in Beijing (1984–1986),[3] Second Secretary and First Secretary at The Hague (1986–1989)[3] and Counselor at United Nations New York (1993–1997) and Political Counselor in Washington, D.C. (1997–2002).[3][5]
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 and Organisation of the Islamic Conference (2003–2004) and spokesman for Pakistan Foreign Office (2003–2005). Masood Khan retired as a career diplomat in 2015.
Masood Khan's publications include the article "Balancing Geo-economics with Geo-politics" as part of Pakistan's first National Securoty Policy release, where he calls for regional economic integration as well potential peace with India.[9]
^He had also served as the President of the UN General Assembly during his tenure as Pakistan's Permanent Representative to the UN."Meet the man who will save the internet"The Register, 14 November 2005, Retrieved 13 November 2018
