It is rare in the history of warfare that one nation’s military acknowledges the valor of an enemy soldier. But such a moment occurred during the 1999 Kargil War, when Captain Karnal Sher Khan of the Pakistan Army displayed such extraordinary bravery that even the Indian Army openly praised him.
A Battle That Transcended Borders
During the fierce fighting at Tiger Hill, Captain Sher Khan commanded his troops with unmatched courage. Indian Brigadier M.S. Bajwa, who led the opposing troops, told the BBC:
“When the battle ended, I was convinced of this officer’s bravery. I had fought in the 1971 war too, but never saw a Pakistani officer lead like this. All other Pakistani soldiers wore traditional shalwar kameez, but he stood out in a tracksuit.”
Author Rachna Bisht Rawat, in her book “Kargil: Untold Stories from the War,” noted that Pakistan had established five positions on Tiger Hill. Initial Indian attempts to retake the posts failed, until more troops joined the effort. Eventually, Indian forces gained ground—but Sher Khan launched a bold counterattack. Even after failing once, he rallied his men again.
“Observers said it was a suicide mission. Everyone knew it wouldn’t succeed—the Indian troops far outnumbered them.”
A Final Salute from the Enemy
Brigadier Bajwa recounted:
“Captain Sher Khan fought bravely. In the final moments, our wounded soldier, Kripal Singh, got up and fired a burst from 10 yards away, bringing him down.”
After the battle, Indian forces buried 30 Pakistani soldiers. Yet Brigadier Bajwa specially ordered Sher Khan’s body to be brought down and placed at the brigade headquarters. When returning the body, he slipped in a note that read:
“Captain Karnal Sher Khan of 1 NLI fought with exceptional courage and should be honored accordingly.”
The Story Behind His Unique Name
Born in the village Nawakili (now renamed in his honor) in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sher Khan inherited his unique name from his grandfather. His grandfather, a veteran of the 1948 Kashmir campaign, admired military men and gave him the honorary title “Karnal” (Colonel) at birth—never imagining it might cause confusion later.
Author Ashfaq Hussain wrote in “Witness to Blunder: Kargil Story Unfolds” that Sher proudly used the name. But it often led to humorous misunderstandings.
When answering the phone with, “Lieutenant Colonel Sher speaking,” callers assumed he was a commanding officer. Laughing, he would clarify, “I’m just Lieutenant Sher—I’ll connect you to the CO.”
Respected by Soldiers and Officers Alike
Sher Khan joined the Pakistan Military Academy in October 1992. Upon arrival, he had a beard and was asked to shave it. He refused. Even later, when told he could secure a better posting by doing so, he again declined. Despite this, he was appointed Battalion Quartermaster.
Captain Ali Hussain, a junior, recalled:
“His English was excellent, and he often beat other officers at Scrabble. He was down-to-earth and played Ludo with the soldiers.”
The Unofficial Capture That Proved His Audacity
In 1998, posted in the Domel Sector, Sher noticed Indian troops had vacated a key position due to winter. Before official approval, he and his team climbed and captured the post. Higher command ordered them to withdraw—but not before Sher brought back symbolic items like Indian uniforms, grenades, and magazines.
His Last Battle on Tiger Hill
On July 4, 1999, Sher was deployed to Tiger Hill, where Pakistan had built three defensive lines named 129-A, B, and C. Indian forces had breached two of them by the time Sher arrived in the evening. After assessing the situation, he prepared for a counterattack at dawn.
That night, he gathered his soldiers and spoke about martyrdom. At 5 a.m., after prayers, he launched an attack with Captain Umar. But during intense hand-to-hand combat and artillery fire, Sher was hit by a burst from an Indian soldier. He fell—fighting to the end.
While other Pakistani soldiers were buried on-site, Captain Sher Khan’s body was taken to Srinagar, then Delhi, before finally being returned to Pakistan.
Posthumous Honor: Nishan-e-Haider
Captain Sher Khan was awarded Pakistan’s highest military gallantry award, Nishan-e-Haider, posthumously.
His brother, Ajmal Sher, said:
“Thank God even our enemy wasn’t cowardly. If someone says India is cowardly, I disagree. They publicly acknowledged Captain Sher as a hero.”
A Hero’s Final Journey
On July 18, 1999, hundreds of soldiers gathered at Malir Cantonment in Karachi to receive his body. His two brothers came from his village. Ashfaq Hussain wrote:
“At 5:01 a.m., the plane landed. Two coffins were unloaded—one was Sher Khan’s, the other could not be identified.”
His coffin was transported to a public site where thousands had gathered. After funeral prayers, his body was flown to Islamabad, where another prayer was held in the presence of President Rafiq Tarar.
Captain Sher was finally laid to rest in his native village—now renamed in his honor. Thousands came to bid farewell to a soldier who won not just battles—but hearts on both sides of the border.
Courtesy: BBC Urdu
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