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{{Short description|Nishan-e-Haider, Capt Pakistan Army}}
{{Infobox military person
| honorific_prefix =
[[File:Nishan-i-Haider-PAK.jpg|20px]]
| honorific_suffix = [[Nishan-e-Haider]]
| name = Karnal Sher Khan
| native_name =
| native_name_ang =
| image = Karnal Sher Khan.png
| image_size =
| alt =
| caption =
| birth_date = {{birth date|1970|01|01|df=y}}
| death_date = {{death date and age|1999|07|05|1970|01|01|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Swabi]], [[Khyber Pakhtunkhwa]], [[Pakistan]]
| death_place = [[Geography of Gilgit–Baltistan|Gultari region]]<ref name="dt"/><ref name=pakmuseum/><ref name=et>{{cite news|url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/2253760/21st-martyrdom-anniversary-of-kargil-war-heroes-observ?amp=1|title=21st martyrdom anniversary of Kargil War heroes observed|date=7 July 2020|newspaper=Express Tribune}}</ref>
| placeofburial = Karnal Sher Khan Kallay (formerly known as Naway Kallay), [[Swabi]], [[Khyber Pakhtunkhwa]]<ref name="dawn"/>
| placeofburial_label =
| placeofburial_coordinates = 
| nickname = Lion of Kargil<ref name=92news/>
| birth_name =
| allegiance = {{PAK}}
| branch = {{army|PAK}}
| serviceyears = 1994–1999
| rank = [[Captain (armed forces)|Captain]]
| unit = [[Sind Regiment|27 Sind Regiment]]<br/>[[Northern Light Infantry|12 Northern Light Infantry]]
| commands =
| battles = [[Kargil War]]
| battles_label =
| awards = [[Nishan-e-Haider]]
| memorials =
| spouse = 
| relations =
| laterwork =
| signature =
| website = 
| module =
}}

'''Karnal Sher Khan''' (1 January 1970 – 5 July 1999) was a military officer of the [[Pakistan Army]].<ref>{{Cite web|url = https://www.pakistanarmy.gov.pk/AWPReview/TextContent.aspx?pId=180|title = Captain Karnal Sher Khan|access-date = 15 February 2016|website = Pakistan Army Web Portal}}</ref> He was one of only eleven recipients of the [[Nishan-e-Haider]]. He was a [[Captain (land and air)|captain]] in the 27th [[Sindh Regiment]] of the Pakistan Army and later was posted to 12th [[Northern Light Infantry|NLI Regiment]] during the [[Kargil War|Kargil Conflict]]. He was killed in action during the [[Kargil War]]. For his bravery during the [[Kargil War]], he was awarded [[Nishan-e-Haider]], which is Pakistan's highest military gallantry award. His name is the [[Pakistani English|localised form]] of the rank [[Colonel]].

==Personal life==
Karnal Sher Khan was born on 1 January 1970 into a [[Pashtun]] family in Naway Kallay, [[Swabi]], [[Khyber Pakhtunkhwa|KPK]]. He was the youngest of two brothers and two sisters. His mother died when he was 6 years old. Colonel Sher Khan was raised by his father. Khan completed his intermediate education at a government postgraduate college in Swabi and later joined [[Pakistan Armed Forces]].<ref name="dawn">{{cite web|url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1492723/anniversary-of-karnal-sher-khan-observed|title=Anniversary of Karnal sher khan observed|work=Dawn News|date=8 July 2022}}</ref>

Throughout his life, Khan cared about the poor people in his area and spent most part of his salary helping them.<ref name="ET-05-07-2021">[https://tribune.com.pk/story/2308841/nation-observes-22nd-anniversary-of-kargil-war-hero-capt-karnal-sher-khan Nation observes 22nd anniversary of Kargil War hero Capt Karnal Sher Khan]. Express Tribune. 5 July 2021.</ref>

== Military career ==
After completing his intermediate education, Khan first joined [[Pakistan Air Force]] (PAF) as an [[Airman]] but later joined Pakistan Army as a commissioned officer in 1992.<ref name="dawn"/> On 14 October 1994, Khan was commissioned in the 27th [[Sindh Regiment]] of Pakistan army.<ref>[https://en.dailypakistan.com.pk/05-Jul-2021/kargil-war-hero-karnal-sher-khan-remembered-on-22nd-martyrdom-anniversary Kargil war hero Karnal Sher Khan remembered on 22nd martyrdom anniversary]. Daily Pakistan. 5 July 2021.</ref>

During the [[Kargil War]], Khan was deployed at the [[Geography of Gilgit–Baltistan|Gultari region]].<ref name="dt"/><ref name=pakmuseum/> He along with his fellow soldiers established five strategic posts at height of 17,000 feet at Gultari. [[Indian Army]] launched eight attacks on their position to capture the strategic posts. However, Khan and his men were able to defend those strategic posts.<ref name="newspk">{{cite web|url=https://nation.com.pk/05-Jul-2017/lion-of-kargil-colonel-sher-khan-18th-martyrdom-anniversary-today|title=Lion of Kargil- Captain Karnal Sher Khan 18th martyrdom anniversary today|date=5 July 2017|work=The Nation}}</ref> On 5 July 1999, the Indian army launched another attack and surrounded his posts with two battalions. With heavy [[Mortar (weapon)|mortar]] fire, the Indian Army captured one of his posts. Khan personally led a successful counter-attack and was able to re-capture the lost post. Despite shortage of ammunition and men, Khan was successful in forcing the enemy to retreat. However, during the battle he was hit by machine gun fire and was killed.<ref name=92news>{{ cite web | url = https://92newshd.tv/martyrdom-anniversary-of-captain-karnal-sher-observed/amp/ | title = Martyrdom anniversary of Captain Karnal Sher observed | work = 92News | access-date = 26 April 2020 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200427085942/https://92newshd.tv/martyrdom-anniversary-of-captain-karnal-sher-observed/amp/ | archive-date = 27 April 2020 | url-status = live | quote = 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 “martyrdom” at the same post. }}</ref><ref name="dt">{{cite web|url=https://dailytimes.com.pk/263305/captain-col-sher-khan-remembered-on-19th-death-anniversary/|title=Captain Col Sher Khan remembered on 19th death anniversary|date=6 July 2018|work=Daily Times}}</ref><ref name=pakmuseum>{{ cite web | url = https://www.pakarmymuseum.com/exhibits/capt-karnal-sher-khan-shaheed/ | title = CAPT KARNAL SHER KHAN (SHAHEED) | work = Pakistan Army Museum | access-date = 26 April 2020 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160304201349/https://www.pakarmymuseum.com/exhibits/capt-karnal-sher-khan-shaheed/ | archive-date = 4 March 2016 | url-status = live }}</ref><ref name="newspk"/><ref>{{cite web|title=Captain Sher Khan|url=https://www.pakistanarmy.gov.pk/AWPReview/TextContent.aspx?pId=180|website=Pakistan Army Official|publisher=Pakistan Army|access-date=30 May 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100824194244/https://www.pakistanarmy.gov.pk/AWPReview/TextContent.aspx?pId=180|archive-date=24 August 2010|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

[[Indian Army]] [[Brigadier (India)|Brigadier]] M. P. S. Bajwa was impressed by the actions of Captain Khan and wrote to the government of Pakistan citing the bravery of the young officer.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/sunday-times/naughty-haneef-robin-and-sher-khan-a-tale-of-four-kargil-heroes/articleshow/70310253.cms|title=Naughty, Haneef, Robin and Sher Khan: A tale of four Kargil heroes |website=The Times of India}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/double-promotion-for-kargil-war-hero-satpal-singh-who-was-manning-traffic-in-punjab-town/articleshow/70396581.cms|title=Double promotion for Kargil war hero Satpal Singh who was manning traffic in Punjab town|date=July 26, 2019|via=The Economic Times}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/punjab/battle-of-tiger-hill-vajpayee-announced-victory-in-advance-would-ve-been-embarrassing-if-we-failed/story-oveYdrRFH8OSvisWIMgl3N.html|title=Battle of Tiger Hill: ‘Vajpayee announced victory in advance, would’ve been embarrassing if we failed’|date=July 20, 2017|website=Hindustan Times}}</ref> Bajwa wrote a citation for Khan and placed it in his pocket while returning his body to the Pakistani officials.<ref name="ET-05-07-2021"/> Khan's actions during the war were also vouched by his fellow Pakistani soldiers and Khan was posthumously awarded Pakistan's highest military honour, the [[Nishan-e-Haider]].<ref name="ET-05-07-2021"/>

==Awards and decorations==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
| rowspan=2|[[File:Nishan Haider Ribbon.gif|80px]] ||[[Nishan-e-Haider]] (NH)
|-
|}

==Legacy==
Karnal Sher Khan's home town Naway Kallay was renamed as Karnal Sher Khan Kallay.<ref name="dawn"/> A [[mausoleum]] was established in his hometown where his body lays in rest. Every year officials from [[Government of Pakistan|Pakistani Government]], [[Pakistan Armed Forces]] and other locals visit the tomb to offer prayer.<ref name="dawn"/><ref name=et/>

A cadet college has been named after him in the village Ismaila near the native town of Karnal Sher Khan Shaheed ([[Nishan-e-Haider|NH]]). It is located on the main Mardan-Swabi Road, approximately midway between [[Mardan]] (23 km) and [[Swabi]] (25 km). It can also be accessed from [[Grand Trunk Road]] through Nowshera-Mardan and from Swabi or Rashakai interchange on the Motorway (M1).<ref name="KSKCCS">{{Cite web|url=https://kskccs.edu.pk/index.php/home|title=Karnal Sher Khan Cadet College Swabi|website=kskccs.edu.pk}}</ref>

A road in the F-11 sector of Pakistan's capital city [[Islamabad]] is named after him. Many roads are named after him in military cantonments across the country.

==See also==
[[Lalak Jan|Havaldar Lalak Jan]]

== References ==
{{reflist}}

{{Nishan-e-Haider}}
{{Military of Pakistan}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sher Khan, Karnal}}
[[Category:1970 births]]
[[Category:1999 deaths]]
[[Category:Recipients of Nishan-e-Haider]]
[[Category:People from Swabi District]]
[[Category:People of the Kargil War]]
[[Category:Pakistani military personnel killed in action]]
[[Category:Pashtun people]]

Karnal Sher Khan - Revision history

Bot at 19:14, 18 November 2022