Karnal Sher Khan (1 Jan 1970 – 5 July 1999) was a Pakistani military officer. He is one of only 11 recipients of Pakistan’s Nishan-e-Haider or good to say highest military gallantry award. He was the captain in the 27th Sindh Regiment of the latter was posted to 12th NLI Regiment during the Kargil War and Pakistan Army. During the war, he was killed in action. During the Kargil War, for its bravery, he was presented the Nishan-e-Haider. His name was the remote form of the rank Colonel.
After completion his intermediate education, Khan foremost join Pakistan Air Force (PAF) as the Airman in 1989, in korangi he were in iqbal wing, he was the roommate and a nearby friend of retd M Mushtaq (who later on served in PAF for 35 year as the flight engineer ).Later Capt Karnal Sher Khan joining Pakistan Army as the commission officer in 1992. On 14 October, Khan was placing an order in the 27th Sindh army of Pakistan regiment.
Despite a shortage of missiles and men, Khan was successful in forcing the enemy to give ground. However, during the conflict he was hitted by machine gun fire and action.
Brig Bajwa instantly wrote a letter of appreciation stating that Captain Khan had fought quite bravely and should be given due tucked and recognition in his pocket. The letter after sometime made its pathway to Pakistan, and Capt. Khan was awarded the higher courage award of Pakistan, Nishan-e-Haider.
Legacy
Karnal Sher Khan’s home city Naway Kallay is well grounded as the Karnal Sher Khan Kallay. A tomb was set up in its hometown where his body laid in rest. Each year officials from the Pakistan Armed Forces and Pakistani Government and other locals visit the tomb to serve prayer.
Moreover, gov. textbooks of Pakistan Studies also mention the tales of Karnal Sher Khan as a chunk of the studious curriculum.
Opposing soldiers in wars often earned respect from the other side for their sheer bravery and determination. In the 1999 Kargil conflict between Pakistan and India, one such officer was Pakistani fighting force Captain Karnal Sher Khan.
Captain Khan, who was killed in action, was initially abandoned by its country when it refused to acknowledge that its army personnel had been involved, but eventually received Pakistan’s highest courageousness award, the Nishan-e-Haider. And this honour is made possible by the Indian Army officer, who is then commanding the 192 Mountain Brigade, Brigadier M.P.S. Bajwa (now retired).
Speaking to ThePrint, Brig. Bajwa said his brigade was tasked with capturing the strategic-significant Tiger Hill. He was assigned on the 18 Grenadiers responsibility— which was early involved in the conflict of Tololing and had suffered approx.. 8th battalion Sikh Regiment (8 Sikh)and 60 casualties, which was already in the firm ground around Tiger Hill and had lost approx.. 25 men in early skirmishes.
Khan leads a counter-attack
Radio head off is also desirably likely to counter-attack any time. Bajwa said that at around 5.45 the next morning, the first counter-attack was made by the weak platoon of 20 men, with 9 Sikh beaten back.
But at a due course timeline, an aggressive attack led by 2 Pakistani officers (later identified as Captain Khan wasckilled 3 JCOs, Bajwa said, add on that the fire on at was helped by ordnance fire.
This forced the rest of the Indian soldiers to another location to withdraw.
At one time, a circumstance arose wherein we had both our officers wounded, with 3 and 15 soldiers dead, besiding 18 soldiers injured, he said.
At this point, Brig. Bajwa spoke up to Sepoy Satpal Singh, forward-most soldier, and came to understand that Captain Khan, who was leading the attack, was timeliness and again inspiring the remaining soldiers to press on. He realised that it was significant to take up with the Pakistani officer, and so directions were issued.
Sepoy Singh and two other soldiers managed to kill Captain Khan and three leading Pakistani soldiers from 10 yards.
The war of Tiger Hill came foremost in. We bury 30 enemy dead. I, thereafter, got Captain Khan’s civilian porter’s body down from Tiger Hill. After the search, we found letters written by his wife in Urdu. Bajwa said the Captain had really fought fearlessly.
Before dispatched the body to Delhi, he informed his General Officer Commanding of Khan’s expressed and bravery the desire to pen up a tiny letter of citation and appreciation— that Captain Khan had been fought very courageously and should be given its due recognition.
A piece of paper with the hand-written passage was placed in its pocket. Initially, Pakistan refused to take its body, saying that their troops had never fought, but later the body was accepted, Bajwa said.
