Pakistan's Posthumous Tribute: Captain Karnal Sher Khan Honored by Army Chief After Initial Denial
In a significant shift in stance, Pakistan has posthumously recognized Captain Karnal Sher Khan, a soldier who lost his life in the 1999 Kargil War, after initially refusing to accept his body or acknowledge his military service. On Saturday, General Asim Munir, the Chief of the Pakistan Army, paid tribute to Captain Khan at his grave in Swabi, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, marking the 26th anniversary of his death. General Munir described him as a symbol of bravery and national pride.
During the Kargil conflict, Pakistan denied the participation of its regular army, labeling the intruders as "mujahideen." Captain Khan's body was retrieved by Indian forces at Tiger Hill in the Dras sector, with clear identification linking him to the Pakistani army. Despite this, Islamabad initially refused to accept his body and delayed its repatriation, denying Khan's military service.
In an extraordinary move, Brigadier MPS Bajwa of the Indian Army, who commanded the 192 Mountain Brigade at the time, was so moved by Khan's courage that he wrote a commendation and placed it in Khan’s pocket before the body was handed back via the International Committee of the Red Cross. This gesture, along with evidence found on Khan, ultimately compelled Pakistan to acknowledge his identity. He was later honored posthumously with the Nishan-e-Haider, Pakistan’s highest military accolade.
On Saturday, General Munir alongside senior Pakistani military officials laid wreaths at Khan’s tomb, praising his ultimate sacrifice. The military's public relations office, DG-ISPR, noted that Captain Khan's actions "remain an eternal source of inspiration" and commended him for "leading from the front while defending the country’s sovereignty."
India commenced the return of soldiers' bodies to Pakistan on July 12, 1999, through the ICRC. Despite having knowledge of the soldiers' identities, including Captain Khan’s, Pakistan requested the ICRC to withhold names to avoid revealing its direct military involvement. A statement from the Indian Embassy in Washington on July 15, 1999, indicated that Islamabad’s denial was aimed at maintaining its narrative and evading accountability.
While Pakistan now celebrates Captain Khan as a national hero, the belated acknowledgment highlights a complex narrative, one where political considerations previously denied a soldier even the acknowledgment of his identity and sacrifice.
