Karnal Sher Khan

Captain
Sher Khan
NH
Born 1 January 1970
Swabi, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
Died 5 July 1999(1999-07-05) (aged 29)
near Tiger Hill, Dras, Jammu and Kashmir, India[1]
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)[2] (Urdu: کرنل شیر خان‬) was a Pakistan Army officer. He was one of only ten recipients of 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. He was killed in action near Tiger Hill, Kargil. His name is the localised form of the rank Colonel.

Early life

Khan was born in Naway Kiley (Shewa Adda), a village in Swabi District of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan.

Khan was the youngest of two brothers and two sisters.[3][4] His mother died in 1978 when he was eight years old. He was brought up by his paternal aunts. His family is religious and claim that Sher was "an embodiment of piety and Islamic teaching".

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.

He twice applied for commission in the Pakistan Army. 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. In January 1998 he volunteered to serve at the LoC in Kashmir. He was posted in 12 NLI from 27 Sind Regiment.

Death

During the Kargil War, he was deployed to Gultary region in Kargil. He established five strategic posts at height of 17,000 feet and successfully defended his posts against Indian assaults multiple times. On 5 July 1999, the Indian army surrounded his posts with two battalions. With heavy mortar fire, the Indian Army captured one of his posts. Khan personally lead the counter-attack but was hit by machine gun fire and was killed.[5]

Awards and decorations

Nishan-e-Haider (NH)

Legacy

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").

References

  1. ↑ Malik, V. P. (2010). Kargil from Surprise to Victory (paperback ed.). HarperCollins Publishers India. p. 97. ISBN 9789350293133.
  2. ↑ "Captain Karnal Sher Khan". Pakistan Army Web Portal. Retrieved 15 February 2016.
  3. ↑ "legends:Sher Khan". Daily Times, Pakistan. September 12, 2015.
  4. ↑ "Capt Carnel Sher Khan Shaheed – Nishan-i-Haider – 5th July 1999". Pak Army Museum.
  5. ↑ "Captain Sher Khan". Pakistan Army Official. Pakistan Army. Retrieved 30 May 2017.
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