Karnal Sher Khan


Karnal Sher Khan was a Pakistan Army officer. 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.

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 as an Airman but later joined Pakistan Army as a commissioned officer in 1992.

Death

During the Kargil War, he was deployed at the Gultari region. 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. 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.
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. Bajwa wrote a citation for Khan and placed it in his pocket while returning his body to the Pakistani officials. Khan was posthumously awarded Pakistan's highest military honour, the Nishan-e-Haider.

Awards and decorations

Legacy

Karnal Sher Khan's home town Naway Kallay was renamed as Karnal Sher Khan Kallay. 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.
A Cadet College has been named after him in the village Ismaila near the native town of Karnal Sher Khan Shaheed. It is located on the main Mardan-Swabi Road, approximately midway between Mardan and Swabi. It can also be accessed from Grand Trunk Road through Nowshara-Mardan and from Swabi or Rashakai interchange on the Motorway.