Karnal Sher Khan

Shaheed Colonel Sher Khan NH
Born	1 January 1970 Swabi, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
Died	5 July 1999 (aged 29) Mushkoh Valley, Jammu and Kashmir, India
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

Karnal Sher Khan (1970–1999)^[1] (Urdu: کرنل شیر خان) was a Pakistan Army officer and one of only ten recipients of Pakistan's highest gallantry award, the Nishan-e-Haider. He was a captain in the 27th Sindh Regiment of the Pakistan Army. He was posted to 12th NLI Regiment during the Kargil Conflict.

Profile

Captain Sher Khan was born in Naway Kiley (Shewa Adda), a village in Swabi District of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. His name is the localised form of the rank Colonel. Karnel Sher Khan's home village of Naway Kiley ("New Village") is now named after him as Karnal Sher Kally ("Village of Karnal Sher Khan").

Early life

Captain Sher Khan was the youngest of two brothers and two sisters.^[2][3] His mother died in 1978 when he was eight years old. He was brought up by his paternal aunts. His family is deeply religious and claim that Sher was "an embodiment of piety and Islamic teaching".

Education and career

After completing his intermediate schooling at the Government College Swabi, Khan joined the Pakistan Air Force as an airman. On completion of his training, he was appointed electric fitter (aeronautical) at Primary Flying Training Wing Risalpur. During these years, he applied twice for commission in the Pakistan Army as a Commissioned Officer. He succeeded the second time. He joined the Pakistan Military Academy, Kakul, in November 1992 and graduated in the 90th Long Course in 1994. His first posting was at Okara in 27th Sindh Regiment. Reportedly a cheerful and devoted soldier, he was fondly called Shera (Lion) and was very popular among his officers and colleagues. In January 1998 he volunteered to serve at the LoC in Kashmir. He was posted in 12 NLI from 27 Sind Regiment.

Kargil conflict

Captain Sher Khan was posthumously awarded Pakistan's highest gallantry award, the Nishan-e-Haider, for his actions during the Kargil Conflict with India in 1999.

The following is the official statement by the Pakistan Army:^[4]

"Captain Karnal Sher Khan emerged as the symbol of mettle and courage during the Kargil conflict on the Line of Control (LoC). He set personal examples of bravery and inflicted heavy losses on the enemy. He defended the five strategic posts, which he established with his Jawan's at the height of some 17,000 feet at Gultary, and repulsed many Indian attacks. After many abortive attempts, the enemy on July 5 ringed the post of Capt. Sher Khan with the help of two battalions and unleashed heavy mortar firing and managed to capture some part of the post. Despite all the odds, he led a counter-attack and tried to re-capture the lost parts, but he was hit by machine-gun fire and embraced Shahadat or martyrdom at the same post. He is the first officer from the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan to be awarded with Nishan-e-Haider."

Khan counter-attacked the enemy at Tiger Hill during the day when the enemy could easily see his movements, taking the Indian Army by surprise. This was considered to be a suicidal counter-attack, but, being familiar with the importance of that post, Karnal Sher Khan chose this method and embraced martyrdom in the process.^[5] Tiger Hill was later recaptured by the Indian Army.

Awards and decorations

	Nishan-e-Haider (NH)

References

1. "Captain Karnal Sher Khan". Pakistan Army Web Portal. Retrieved 15 February 2016.
2. "legends:Sher Khan". Daily Times, Pakistan. September 12, 2015.
3. "Capt Carnel Sher Khan Shaheed - Nishan-i-Haider - 5th July 1999". Pak Army Museum.
4. "Captain Karnal Sher Khan". Pakistan Army. Retrieved 10 April 2012.
5. "Indian Army Recommendation of Pak Highest gallantry for his bravery". CNN-IBN. Retrieved July 25, 2009.