By Shahid Shah 

Kargil war fought at the world’s deadliest terrain ended with stories of unprecedented valor and bravery. On one hand the Indian soldiers fled away from the battlefield leaving the dead bodies of their soldiers behind. While on the other, brave officers like Captain Karnal Sher Khan (Nishan-e-Haider) who is known as the lion of Kargil war wrote history with his blood, displaying utmost commitment, valor, and unwavering allegiance to defend the country against all odds. The Indian media and research analysts remained busy in projecting the narrative that Pakistan didn’t own their soldiers after the Kargil war but the fact that soldiers like Captain Kernal Sher Khan and Havaldar Lalak Jan who were awarded Nishan-e-Haider the highest military award spoiled the Indian propaganda. Captain Ammar Shaheed who embraced martyrdom the same day as of Captain Sher Khan has Ammar Shaheed Chowk in Rawalpindi Pakistan named after him due to display of Valor and courage in the battlefield. Captain Inam Shaeed who was the first casualty from Pakistani side in the Kargil war is yet another son of the soil who laid his life while displaying unprecedented chivalry at the face of odds.

Captain Karnal Sher Khan (Nishan-e-Haider) was born on January 1st, 1970 in Swabi. From a very early age he faced many hardships but fought with them bravely. He joined the Pakistan Army in 1992. During the Kargil war he was assigned to clear an important position in the Tiger Hills area of Buniyal Sector. He along with his fellow soldiers while ignoring the overwhelming superiority of enemy in men and firepower managed to clear the position by display of tremendous courage and grit. The man himself was in charge of the action and during the counter attack was able to inflict heavy losses on the enemy.

The Indian officer who witnessed his bravery first hand placed a praise-filled note in his pocket. His unit commander Lieutenant Colonel Iqbal said that Captain Sher Khan (NH) was known in his unit with the name of ‘Shera’ (The Lion). His unit was known as conquerors and they never failed in any mission. Captain Sher was the one among those officers who were the first ones to volunteer for Kargil mission.

July 5th, 1999 was the day of martyrdom for Captain Sher Khan. When his family heard the news of his martyrdom they felt proud and his father said that “though I am an old man, I would also join the Kargil battle if the country needed me”. He left an everlasting mark with his act of bravery on the younger generation. His nephew Nauman Sher recalling the sacrifice of his uncle said; “every youngster in our family wants to follow in his (Captain Sher Khan) footsteps and make him proud”.

As per his family sources, the biggest motivation for him was to attain martyrdom. After becoming a military officer, he used to be asked about his plans of getting married to which he replied that I will get married in the heavens. He was always concerned for the needy and spent most of his earnings to help them without letting anyone know about it. After his martyrdom all those people whom he helped came to his house and disclosed that they lost their benefactor.

Such are the tales of bravery of soldiers and officers who fought at every front with utmost bravery and to the last bullet. Though Kargil War remains shrouded among many controversies and conflicting narration of events and activities propagated to support own versions of stories, however, display of unprecedented bravery and chivalry demonstrated by officers and soldiers of Pak Army who fought gallantly in the battlefield is acknowledged by all and sundry.