Karnal Sher Khan

Infobox Military Person
name= Karnal Sher Khan
lived= 1970 – 1999
placeofbirth= Swabi, NWFP
placeofdeath=Kargil


caption=Captain Karnal Sher Khan, Nishan-e-Haider
nickname=
allegiance= Pakistan Army
serviceyears=
rank= Captain
commands=
unit= 12 Northern Light Infantry (NLI)
27 Sind Regiment
battles= Kargil War
awards= Nishan-e-Haider
laterwork=

Karnal Sher Khan (1970–1999) (Urdu: کرنال شیر خان) was a Pakistani Army officer. He was a Captain in the 12 Northern Light Infantry (NLI), 27 Sind.

Name

Captain Sher Khan was born as Nawan Killi a village in Swabi District of N.W.F-P. Pakistan. "Karnal" is localised form of "Colonel". His elder brother, after his death, told in TV interviews that their parents wanted Sher Khan to become a Colonel in Pakistan Army that's why they gave him "Karnal" as first name [Multiple PTV programs in tribute to the martyrs of Kargil Conflict] . The village of Karnel Sher Khan i.e. Nawan Kali (means: New Village) has now been named after him as "Karnal Sher Khan Kili" (Village of Karnal Sher Khan).

Early life

Captain Sher Khan was the youngest of his two brothers and two sisters. His mother died in 1978 when he was eight. He was brought up by his paternal aunts. His family is deeply religious and they say that Sher was an embodiment of piety and Islamic teaching. his name "sher" literary means "lion" in Pashto,Punjabi and Urdu.

After completing his intermediate from Government College Swabi he joined Pakistan Air Force as an air man. On completion of his training, he was appointed electric fitter (aeronautical) at PAF Academy Risalpur. During these years he applied twice for commission in the Pakistan Army as a Commissioned Officer, as this was what he really wanted to do — 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. Always smiling as a devoted soldier, he was fondly called Shera 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.

The Award and last tour of duty

Captain Karnal Sher was posthumously awarded the Nishan-e-Haider for his daring actions and services to his country during the Kargil Conflict with India in 1999.

Kargil conflict

Pakistan Army's official statement is as follows;:"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 battalion and unleashed heavy Mortar firing and managed to capture some part of the post. Despite facing all odds, he lead a counter-attack and re- captured the lost parts.But during the course he was hit by the machine-gun fire and embraced Shahadat or martyrdom at the same post. He is the first officer from the NWFP province to be awarded with Nishan-e-Haider."

References

External links

* [http://www.geocities.com/menofvalor2001/karnalsherkhan.html Detailed article on Captain Karnal Sher Khan by Nasir M. Khan]