Karnal Sher Khan

Karnal Sher Khan (1 January 1970 – 5 July 1999) was a military officer of the Pakistan Army.[6] He was one of only eleven recipients of the Nishan-e-Haider. He was a captain in the 27th Sindh Regiment of the Pakistan Army and later was posted to 12th NLI Regiment during the Kargil Conflict. He was killed in action during the Kargil war. For his bravery during the Kargil war, he was awarded Nishan-e-Haider, which is Pakistan's highest military gallantry award. His name is the localised form of the rank Colonel.

Karnal Sher Khan [Nishan-e-Haider]
Nickname(s)	Lion of Kargil[1]
Born	1 January 1970 Swabi, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
Died	5 July 1999 (aged 29) Gultari region[2][3][4]
Buried	Karnal Sher Khan Kallay (formerly known as Naway Kallay), Swabi, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa[5]
Allegiance	Pakistan
Service/branch	Pakistan Army
Years of service	1994–1999
Rank	Captain
Unit	27 Sind Regiment 12 Northern Light Infantry
Battles/wars	Kargil War
Awards	Nishan-e-Haider

Early life

Karnal Sher Khan was born on 1 January 1970 in Naway Kallay, Swabi, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. After completing his intermediate education at a government postgraduate college in Swabi, he first joined Pakistan Air Force (PAF) as an Airman but later joined Pakistan Army as a commissioned officer in 1992.[5]

Death

During the Kargil War, he was deployed at the Gultari region.[2][3] He along with his fellow soldiers established five strategic posts at height of 17,000 feet at Gultari. Indian Army launched eight attacks on their position to capture the strategic posts. However, Khan and his men were able to defend those strategic posts.[7] On 5 July 1999, the Indian army launched another attack and surrounded his posts with two battalions. With heavy mortar fire, the Indian Army captured one of his posts. Khan personally led a successful counter-attack and was able to re-capture the lost post. Despite shortage of ammunition and men, Khan was successful in forcing the enemy to retreat. However, during the battle he was hit by machine gun fire and was killed.[1][2][3][7][8]

Indian Army Brigadier Bajwa was impressed by the actions of Captain Khan and wrote to the government of Pakistan citing the bravery of the young officer.[9][10][11] Bajwa wrote a citation for Khan and placed it in his pocket while returning his body to the Pakistani officials.[12] Khan was posthumously awarded Pakistan's highest military honour, the Nishan-e-Haider.

Awards and decorations

	Nishan-e-Haider (NH)

Legacy

Karnal Sher Khan's home town Naway Kallay was renamed as Karnal Sher Khan Kallay.[5] A Mausoleum was established in his home town where his body lays in rest. Every year officials from Pakistani Government, Pakistan Armed Forces and other locals visit the tomb to offer prayer.[5][4]

A Cadet College has been named after him in the village Ismaila near the native town of Karnal Sher Khan Shaheed (NH). It is located on the main Mardan-Swabi Road, approximately midway between Mardan (23Km) and Swabi (25 Km). It can also be accessed from Grand Trunk Road through Nowshara-Mardan and from Swabi or Rashakai interchange on the Motorway (M1).[13]

See also

Havaldar Lalak Jan

References

1. "Martyrdom anniversary of Captain Karnal Sher observed". 92News. Archived from the original on 27 April 2020. Retrieved 26 April 2020. Despite facing all odds, he led a counter-attack and re-captured the lost parts of his post. But during the course, he was hit by the machine-gun fire and embraced “martyrdom” at the same post.
2. "Captain Col Sher Khan remembered on 19th death anniversary". Daily Times. 6 July 2018.
3. "CAPT KARNAL SHER KHAN (SHAHEED)". Pakistan Army Museum. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
4. "21st martyrdom anniversary of Kargil War heroes observed". Express Tribune. 7 July 2020.
5. "Anniversary of Karnal sher khan observed". Dawn News. 8 July 2019.
6. "Captain Karnal Sher Khan". Pakistan Army Web Portal. Retrieved 15 February 2016.
7. "Lion of Kargil- Captain Karnal Sher Khan 18th martyrdom anniversary today". The Nation. 5 July 2017.
8. "Captain Sher Khan". Pakistan Army Official. Pakistan Army. Archived from the original on 24 August 2010. Retrieved 30 May 2010.
9. "Naughty, Haneef, Robin and Sher Khan: A tale of four Kargil heroes - Times of India". The Times of India.
10. "Double promotion for Kargil war hero Satpal Singh who was manning traffic in Punjab town". July 26, 2019 – via The Economic Times.
11. "Battle of Tiger Hill: 'Vajpayee announced victory in advance, would've been embarrassing if we failed'". Hindustan Times. July 20, 2017.
12. Philip, Snehesh Alex (July 24, 2019). "How an Indian officer helped an enemy captain win Pakistan's highest gallantry award".
13. "Karnal Sher Khan Cadet College Swabi". kskccs.edu.pk.