New Delhi: Opposing soldiers in wars often earn respect from the other side because of their sheer determination and bravery. In the 1999 Kargil conflict between India and Pakistan, one such officer was Pakistan Army Captain Karnal Sher Khan.
Captain Khan, who was killed in action, was initially abandoned by his country when it refused to acknowledge that its army personnel had been involved, but eventually received Pakistan’s highest gallantry award, the Nishan-e-Haider. And this honour was made possible by an Indian Army officer, Brigadier M.P.S. Bajwa (now retired), who was then commanding the 192 Mountain Brigade.
Bajwa was so impressed by the way Khan had fought that he wrote a citation for him and placed it in his pocket while handing over the body, which eventually led to his recognition.
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The battle of Tiger Hill
Speaking to ThePrint, Brig. Bajwa said his brigade was tasked with capturing the strategically-important Tiger Hill. He delegated the responsibility to 18 Grenadiers — which was earlier involved in the battle of Tololing and had suffered approximately 60 casualties — and 8th battalion Sikh Regiment (8 Sikh), which was already in the firm base around Tiger Hill and had lost approximately 25 men in earlier skirmishes.
“I tasked 18 Grenadiers with capturing Tiger Hill Top with their Ghatak Platoon and other companies from the south-west and east. I had warned the commanding officer of 8 Sikh to keep around 50 personnel with two officers ready to be launched on the south-western ridge line to prevent any reinforcements/counter-attack on Tiger Hill Top,” he said.
On 4 July 1999, the Ghatak Platoon headed by Captain Balwan Singh of 18 Grenadiers managed to capture the Tiger Hill Top, but the battle was still going on, with other troops of 18 Grenadiers being rushed to support the platoon.
“Meanwhile, apprehending a likely counter-attack from the south-western ridge line, I ordered 8 Sikh, comprising of 52 personnel — two officers, four junior commissioned officers (JCOs) and 46 soldiers — to capture (the features code-named) ‘India Gate’ and ‘Helmet’,” he said.
“To avoid observation in daylight and the enemy’s intense artillery and other fire, 8 Sikh followed a dry nala and were in position after capturing two enemy posts by first light of 5 July.”
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Khan leads a counter-attack
Radio intercepts also indicated likely counter-attack any time. Bajwa said that at around 6.45 the next morning, the first counter-attack was made by a weak platoon of 20 men, which 8 Sikh beat back.
“But subsequently, a fierce attack led by two Pakistani officers (later identified as Captain Khan of the 12 Northern Light Infantry and Major Iqbal of the Special Service Group) killed three JCOs,” Bajwa said, adding that the attack was supported by artillery fire.
This forced the rest of the Indian soldiers to withdraw to another location.
“At one time, a situation arose wherein we had both our officers wounded, with three and 15 soldiers dead, besides 18 soldiers injured,” he said.
At this point, Brig. Bajwa spoke to the forward-most solider, Sepoy Satpal Singh, and came to know that Captain Khan, who was leading the attack, was time and again motivating the remaining troops to press on. He realised that it was important to take down the Pakistani officer, and so directions were issued.
Sepoy Singh and two other soldiers managed to kill three leading Pakistani soldiers, and shot Captain Khan from 10 yards.
“The battle of Tiger Hill was thus won. We buried 30 enemy dead. I, thereafter, through civilian porters, got Captain Khan’s body down from Tiger Hill. After a search, we found letters written by his wife in Urdu. The Captain had really fought bravely,” Bajwa said.
Before dispatching the body to Delhi, he informed his General Officer Commanding of Khan’s bravery and expressed the desire to write a small letter of appreciation and citation — that Captain Khan had fought very bravely and must be given his due recognition.
“A piece of paper with a hand-written citation was placed in his pocket. Initially, Pakistan refused to take his body, saying that their soldiers had never fought, but later the body was accepted,” Bajwa said.
“It was heartening news that he was awarded the Nishan-e-Haider. I received a letter of thanks to the Indian Army from his father.”
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