Captain Karnal Sher Khan Shaheed Nishan-i-Haider

[Captain Karnal Sher Khan Shaheed Nishan-i-Haider Brief History]

He was born on 1 January 1970. He was commissioned in the Army on 14

October 1994. Captain Karnal Sher Khan emerged as the symbol of mettle and courage during the Kargil conflict on the Line of Control. He set personal examples of bravery and inflicted heavy losses on the enemy. He defended the five strategic posts, which he established with his jawans at the height of 17,000 feet at Gultary, and repulsed many Indian attacks. After many abortive attempts, the Indians on 5 July 1999 ringed the posts of Captain Karnal Sher Khan with the help of two battalions and unleashed heavy mortar fire and managed to capture some part of one of his posts. Despite facing all odds, he led a counter-attack and re-captured the lost parts of his post. But during the course, he was hit by the machine-gun fire and embraced ‘SHAHADAT’ at the same post. 

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 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. 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.[citation needed] 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.[citation needed] 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.

Martyred

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.