Monday, October 15, 2012

Nishaan-e-Haider

Nishan-e-Haider or Nishan-e-Hyder (Urdu: نشان حیدر, translated as "Emblem of Haider, where Haider is the epithet of Hazrat Ali and means Lion", abbreviated as NH) is the highest military decoration given by Pakistan (it is the equivalent to the Victoria Cross and the Medal of Honor under the British Honours System and the United States Honors System respectively). It was established in 1957 after Pakistan became a Republic, however, it was instituted retrospectively from Independence in 1947. It is awarded to military personnel, regardless of rank, for extraordinary bravery in combat.[3] The award is considered to be the highest military award and has only been awarded to those who have sacrificed their life for the country. Its exclusivity may be gauged by the fact that since it was established only 11 awards have been made, along with one equivalent award. To date all awards have been made posthumously. However, death of the individual during the act of extreme courage is not mandatory for qualification for Nishan-e-Haider. Of the 11 recipients, 10 have been from the Pakistan Army, one has been from the Pakistan Air Force and no one from Pakistan Navy.

Type Gallantry Award
Eligibility Military only (Conferable on all ranks)
Awarded for "... to those who have performed acts of greatest heroism or most conspicuous courage in circumstances of extreme danger and have shown bravery of the highest order or devotion to the country, in the presence of the enemy on land, at sea or in the air ..."[1]
Status Currently awarded
Post-nominals NH
Statistics
Established 16 March 1957[2]
First awarded First Kashmir War, 1948
Last awarded Havildar Lalak Jan Shaheed, 1999
Total awarded 11
Posthumous
awards all
Precedence
Next (higher) None
Next (lower) (2) Hilal-i-Jurat
(3) Sitara-i-Jurat
(4) Tamgha-i-Jurat

The Decoration

Category: Operational (Awarded to deceased members of the Pakistani Military Forces whose death occurred during times of conflict)
Definition: It is the highest Military award and holds seniority among civil and military awards. It is open to all ranks for acts of heroism/conspicuous courage in circumstances of extreme danger or devotion to the country in the presence of the enemy on land, at sea or in the air.
Manufacture: Made from surrendered enemy gun metal.

Recipients
To date, no living person has received the award.
  1. Naik Saif Ali Janjua is also considered as a Nishan-e-Haider award recipient because he got Hilal-e-Kashmir from the government of Azad Kashmir. Hilal-e-Kashmir is equivalent to Nishan-e-Haider. Therefore total eleven persons are considered to be the recipient of Nishan-e-Haider

01. Muhammad Sarwar

Born 1910
Gujar Khan, Punjab
Died 27 July 1948
Uri, Kashmir
Allegiance Pakistan Army
Years of service 1944 - 1948
Rank Captain
Unit Punjab Regiment
Battles/wars First Kashmir War
Awards Nishan-e-Haider

Raja Muhammad Sarwar Khan Bhati (1910–27 July 1948) (Urdu: محمد سرور) was born in Singhori village, Tehsil Gujar Khan, District of Rawalpindi, Punjab, Pakistan. Muhammad Sarwar[1] was a captain in the newly formed Pakistani Army. Commissioned: 1944, Punjab Regiment. In 1947, he volunteered to take part in the battalion organised by the Pakistani Army that entered Kashmir on the order of the then Governor-General Muhammad Ali Jinnah with the object of taking over Kashmir.[citation needed] His regiment managed to outflank the unorganized Indian troops and forced them to retreat out of the parts which are now known as Northern Areas in one of the battles of the First Kashmir War. He was killed by machine gun fire while advancing through a barbed wire barricade.

During the Kashmir Operations soon after the birth of Pakistan, as Company Commander[citation needed] of the 2nd Battalion of the Punjab Regiment, Captain Sarwar launched an attack causing heavy casualties against a strongly fortified enemy position in the Uri Sector under heavy machine gun, grenade and mortar fire. But on 27 July 1948, as he moved forward with six of his men to cut their way through a barbed wire barrier, he died when his chest was riddled by a burst of heavy machine gun fire.

In recognition for his valor, Sarwar was postmumously awarded the Nishan-E-Haider, Pakistan's highest military decoration.

In addition Sarwar Shaheed College was named after his honor.

02. Tufail Mohammad

Born 1914
Tufailabad ,Burewala, Punjab
Died 7 August 1958
Lakshmipur area
Allegiance Pakistan Army
Years of service 1943 – 1958
Rank Major
Unit 16th Punjab Regiment
Battles/wars Battle in Lakshmipur village near Brahmanbaria District
Awards Nishan-e-Haider

Tufail Mohammad (Urdu: طفیل محمد; c. 1914 – 7 August 1958) was born in Hoshiarpur, Punjab.

Mohammad was posthumously awarded the Nishan-e-Haider, Pakistan's highest military award and is the only person to win the award for an action outside the Indo-Pakistan Wars. In 1958, Major Tufail Muhammed was posted to East Pakistan as the Company Commander of a battalion of East Pakistan Rifles (a Para military force for border security). During his command, Indian troops violating international borders captured a village in the area of Laskhmipur of East Pakistan. On August 7, 1958 Major Tufail launched an assault to force withdrawal of Indian troops from the village; He divided his men into three groups and attacked Indian troops during the dark hours of August 7. Their groups was able to reach the enemy without being detected but as the firefight started, the group came under heavy fire and Major Tufail received three bullets in his stomach. Despite being shot in stomach, he kept moving and was able to silence the incoming fire from machine gun. By tactically using grenades, Major Tufail was able to destroy key enemy posts. When he saw an enemy commander inflicting heavy casualties to his men he crawled towards enemy posting and engaged the enemy in hand-to-hand battle which resulted in the killing of a commander of the Indian Army. He killed him by hitting him with his steel helmet on the face. He continued the operation with his men which resulted in the withdrawal of Indian forces. Despite being heavily injured, he called his junior officer “I have completed my duty; the enemy is on the run.” He was rushed to hospital but he embraced shahadat.

Major Muhammed Tufail was buried with full military honors in his native city Burewala. His native town has been named after him and is now known as Tufailabad. Major Muhammed Tufail was posthumously awarded the Nishan-e-Haider and he is the only person to get this award for an action outside the Indo-Pakistani wars.

03. Raja Aziz Bhatti

Major Raja Aziz Bhatti (1928 - September 10, 1965)[1] (Punjabi, Urdu: عزیز بهٹی) was a Hong Kong-born Pakistan Army's Staff officer who received Pakistan's highest award for valor. He was born in Hong Kong in 1928.[2][3] He moved to Pakistan before it became independent in 1947, living in the village of Ladian, Kharian, Gujrat. There he enlisted with the newly formed Pakistani Army and was commissioned to the Punjab Regiment in 1950.

Birth name Raja Aziz Bhatti
Nickname Major Raja Aziz
Born 1928
British Hong Kong
Died September 11, 1965
Lahore, Pakistan
Allegiance Pakistan
Service/branch Pakistan Army
Years of service 1950-1965
Rank Major
Unit 17th Battalion, Punjab Regiment
Commands held Burki Company, 17th Battalion, Punjab Regiment
Battles/wars Indo-Pakistani War of 1965
Awards Nishan-e-Haider
Sword of Honor
Norman Medal

Early life and army career

His father's name was Master Abdullah Bhatti, and his mother's name was Bibi Amna . Throughout his career, he was a brilliant officer and stood out in his class. He did very well at the Academy and was awarded the Norman Medal and the Sword of Honour in his year's batch of 300 officers. He received his honours from Liaquat Ali Khan, the first Prime Minister of Pakistan.

Death

On 6 September 1965, as a Company Commander in the Burki area of the Lahore sector, Major Raja Aziz Bhatti choose to stay with his forward platoon under incessant artillery and tank attacks for five days and nights in the defence of the strategic BRB Canal. Throughout, undaunted by constant fire from enemy small arms, tanks and artillery. He was reorganizing his company and directing the gunners to shell the enemy positions. In order to watch every move of the enemy, he had to place himself in an elevated position, where he was exposed to Indian fury. He led his men from the front under constant attack from Indian Artillery batteries. Although he tried to counter every Indian offensive in his area, he was hit by an enemy tank shell in the chest while watching the enemy's moves, and embraced martyrdom on 11 September 1965.[4]

He is buried at his village in Ladian in the Gujrat district.

Each year, Major Bhatti is honoured in Pakistan on 6 September, also known as Defence Day of Pakistan. Major Raja Aziz Bhatti was awarded the Nishan-e-Haider, the nation's highest military award for gallantry for the exemplary courage he displayed.

04. Muhammad Akram

Major Muhammad Akram (Urdu: محمد اکرم; c. 1938–1971), was a Pakistan Army officer who was posthumously awarded the Pakistan military's highest decoration, the Nishan-e-Haider, for his actions during the 1971 Indo-Pak. Akram was sent on several missions in 1971 India-Pakistan War, and was killed in Battle of Hilli, 1971.

Born Dinga, Gujrat District, Punjab
Died Bogra, Bangladesh
Major Akram Shaheed Memorial Jhelum
Allegiance Pakistan
Service/branch Pakistan Army
Years of service 1959-1971
Rank Major
Unit 31st Frontier Force Regiment
Commands held 4th FF Company, 31st FF Battalion, 205 Infantry Brigade.
Battles/wars Indo-Pakistani War of 1965
Indo-Pakistani War of 1971
Battle of Hilli
Awards Nishan-e-Haider (1971)

Military career
Akram was born in Dinga Village, District of Gujrat, Punjab, while he belonged to the village of Nakka Kalan in the district of Jhelum. Ethnically, he belonged to Awan tribe of Pakistan. In 1959, Akram was accepted in Pakistan Military Academy and graduated from there in 1963. He gained a commissioned in 1963 as part of the Frontier Force Regiment. Akram participated in 1965 Indo-Pak September War as a Captain where he led several successful military operations against Indian Army. Stationed in Lahore, Akram, while commanded, a small company led several decisive operations against the Indian Armed Forces.

In 1969, Akram was promoted as Major. In 1971, as Major of the Pakistan Army, Akram fought in the war with India. In the Battle of Hilli for his leadership, bravery and eventually, rendering the ultimate sacrifice, Major Akram was posthumously awarded the Nishan-e-Haider, Pakistan's highest military award.

Martyrdom and legacy

During the Bangladesh Liberation War of 1971, the 4th FF Regiment, which Akram commanded, was placed in the forward area of the Hilli district, in what was then East Pakistan. The regiment came under continuous and heavy air, artillery and armour attacks from the Indian Army. For an entire fortnight, despite enemy superiority in both numbers and firepower, Akram and his men repulsed every attack, inflicting heavy casualties on the enemy. Akram died during this battle. Major Muhammad Akram (N.H) was buried in village-Boaldar,Thana/Upozila-Hakimpur(Banglahilly),District-Dinajpur. There is a monument, Major Akram Shaheed Memorial, in the midst of Jhelum city. He is called hero of Hilli[who?]. Anjum Sultan Shahbaz famous writer and historian has mentioned him in the book Tareekh-e-Jhelum and Shohdai Jhelum.


05. Rashid Minhas

Pilot Officer Rashid Minhas or Rashid Minhas Shaheed, NH, (Urdu: راشد منہاس) (February 17, 1951 – August 20, 1971) was a Pilot Officer in the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) during the 1971 Pakistan-India War. Minhas, a newly commissioned officer at that time, is the only PAF officer to receive the highest valour award, the Nishan-e-Haider. He is also the youngest person and the shortest-serving officer to have received this award. He is remembered for his death in 1971 in a jet trainer crash while struggling to regain the controls from a defecting pilot: Matiur Rahman.

Born February 17, 1951
Karachi, Sindh province, West Pakistan
Died August 20, 1971 (aged 20)
Thatta, Sindh province, West Pakistan
Allegiance Pakistan
Service/branch Pakistan Air Force
Years of service 1971
Rank Pilot Officer (2nd Lieutenant)
Service number PAF No-5602
Unit No. 2 Squadron Minhas
Awards Nishan-e-Haider

Early life and education

Rashid Minhas was born on February 17, 1951, in Karachi. He was born to a family that had settled in Gurdaspur from Jammu and Kashmir. After the creation of Pakistan, the family migrated there and lived near Sialkot. Minhas spent his early childhood in Lahore. Later, the family shifted to Rawalpindi. Minhas had his early education from St Mary's Cambridge School Rawalpindi. Later his family shifted to Karachi. Minhas was fascinated with aviation history and technology. He used to collect different models of aircraft and jets. He studied from Saint Mary's Cambridge School, Murree Road, Rawalpindi and completed his O Levels at the age of 16. He also attended St Patrick's High School, Karachi and then attended Karachi University where he studied military history and aviation history.

Death

Having joined the air force, Minhas was commissioned on March 13, 1971, in the 51st GD(P) Course. He began training to become a pilot. On August 20 of that year, in the hour before noon, he was getting ready to take off in a T-33 jet trainer in Karachi, his second solo flight in that type of aircraft. Minhas was taxiing toward the runway when a Bengali instructor pilot, Flight Lieutenant Matiur Rahman, signalled him to stop and then climbed into the instructor's seat. The jet took off and turned toward India.

Minhas radioed PAF Base Masroor with the message that he was being hijacked. The air controller requested that he resend his message, and he confirmed the hijacking. Later investigation showed that Rahman intended to defect to India to join his compatriots in the Bangladesh Liberation War, along with the jet trainer. In the air, Minhas struggled physically to wrest control from Rahman; each man tried to overpower the other through the mechanically linked flight controls. Some 32 miles (51 km) from the Indian border, the jet crashed near Thatta. Both men were killed.[2]

Minhas was posthumously awarded Pakistan's top military honour, the Nishan-E-Haider, and became the youngest man and the only member of the Pakistan Air Force to win the award. Similarly, Rahman was honoured by Bangladesh with their highest military award, the Bir Sreshtho.[3]

Minhas's Pakistan military citation for the Nishan-E-Haider states that he "forced the aircraft to crash" in order to prevent Rahman from taking the jet to India.[2] This is the official, popular and widely known version of how Minhas died. Yawar A. Mazhar, a writer for Pakistan Military Consortium, relayed in 2004 that he spoke to retired PAF Group Captain Cecil Chaudhry about Minhas, and that he learned more details not generally known to the public. According to Mazhar, Chaudhry lead the immediate task of investigating the wreckage and writing the accident report. Chaudhry told Mazhar that he found the jet had hit the ground nose first, instantly killing Minhas in the front seat. Rahman's body, however, was not in the jet and the canopy was missing. Chaudhry searched the area and saw Rahman's body some distance behind the jet, the body found with severe abrasions from hitting the sand at a low angle and a high speed. Chaudhry thought that Minhas probably jettisoned the canopy at low altitude causing Rahman to be thrown from the cockpit because he was not strapped in. Chaudhry felt that the jet was too close to the ground at that time, too far out of control for Minhas to be able to prevent the crash.

Legacy

After his death, Minhas was honoured as a national hero. In his memory the Pakistan Air Force base at Kamra was renamed PAF Base Minhas, often called Minhas-Kamra. In Karachi he was honoured by the naming of a main road, Rashid Minhas Road[5][6] (Urdu: شاہراہ راشد منہاس). A two-rupee postage stamp bearing his image was issued by Pakistan Post in December 2003; 500,000 were printed.

06. Shabbir Sharif

Major Shabbir Sharif Rana (Urdu: شبیر شریف رانا; born April 28, 1943) was a Pakistani officer who received both the Sitara-e-Jurat and Nishan-e-Haider for his bravery.

Born April 28, 1943
Kunjah, Gujrat,
Pakistan
Died December 3, 1971
Saboona
Allegiance Pakistan
Service/branch Pakistani Army
Years of service April 19, 1954- December 7, 1971
Rank Major
Unit 6th Battalion of the Frontier Force Regiment
Commands held 6th Frontier Force Regiment
Battles/wars Indo-Pakistani War of 1965
Indo-Pakistani War of 1971
Awards Sword of Honor
Sitara-e-Jurat
Nishan-e-Haider

Early life and military career

Sharif was born April 28, 1943 in Kunjah, Gujrat District) to Major(r) Muhammad Sharif.[1] Completed his O Levels from St. Anthony's High School, Lahore and while he was at Government College Lahore that he received a call to join Pakistan Military Academy (PMA) Kakul. He was commissioned in Pakistan Army on April 19, 1964 and after successfully completing his training, including a receipt of Sword of Honor, he was posted to the 6th Battalion of the Frontier Force Regiment.

Other

His younger brother Lt. General Raheel Sharif is currently serving as Corps Commander Gujranwala in Pakistan Army

Attack on Gurmakhera Bridge

The General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi launched an attack on India from the western front (West Pakistan) on 3 December 1971. The primary purpose of the attack was to force India on transferring their military strength in East Pakistan to the West, easing pressure on the East. Before the transfer, it was expected that the West Pakistani forces would gather enough territory to negotiate with India after the war for areas in the East. It was also expected that if the Western front attack was successful, it would cause India to pull out of the war due to severe loss of territory. While the Pakistani attack commenced in the localities of Azad Kashmir, Chamb, Sulemanki, the area inclusive and surrounding Shakargarh (Pakistan) and Rahim Yar Khan, was to be defended. During a defensive posture, the army in this area was supposed to facilitate the launch of the Army Reserves, a 5 Division strong section of the Pakistan Army which was commanded by Lt. Gen. Tikka Khan. Even at Solemanki, two companies (100 men each) of 6 Frontier Force, one commanded by Sharif, were initially supposed to make the attack by the Army Reserves possible by making sure that a certain obstacle was removed.

The obstacle was created by India to prevent Pakistani forces from penetrating into Indian territory. They had created an artificial ridge (small mountain), steep on the Pakistani side, but with a low inclination towards the Indian side. This was to prevent the Pakistani forces from easily climbing up the ridge, whereas the Indians could do so with ease. Result being that the Indians could get an aerial advantage over Pakistan. In front of the ridge on the Pakistani side, there was also a river dug up. This was to slow down the Pakistani forces and also to prevent any tanks or heavy artillery from entering Indian territory. There were only two bridges which were making any vehicular movement across the river/ridge possible and India was controlling them both. Inside the ridge there were camouflaged cemented bunkers which would enable the Indians to fire on any Pakistani troops.

It was extremely important for Pakistan to neutralize this ridge, for it would not only pave the way for the Pakistani attack, but it would also make sure that the Indians themselves cannot attack through this area. The ridge was called Saboona Ridge, and the bridge attacked was called Gurmakhera Bridge.

At 5:45 PM, 3 December 1971 Sharif launched the attack against Gurmakhera Bridge. Before reaching the bridge Shabir's men had to pass next to the Indian village of Beriwala. This village was reasonably well protected by the Indian Army, and they had also installed landmines in the region next to it for the inconvenience of bypassing troops. Bravo Company knew that there were landmines in the region, but a safe route through was not known. In practice, Bravo company passed through this area safely.

When the company reached the bridge, Farooq Afzal was given the task to take a few men and launch the initial attack. Afzal hence departed from the rest of the party and took a few men closer to the bridge. Two Indian soldiers could be seen standing in front of the bridge. When the Pakistani soldiers killed these men, they were surprised by fire from camouflaged Indian bunkers overlooking the bridge, two of which had the entire bridge area under their firing range. The Indians burst fire upon the Pakistan soldiers hence retarding their progress.

After asking Sharif by radio to provide him with covering fire, Afzal decided to attack the bridge from the front despite the Indian firepower. Breaking up his men into a group of three, he told them to attack with the slogan of Allah O Akbar, basically to distract the Indians from three different sides, hoping that at least one of the three would crawl up to the bridge and reach the area directly beneath the bunkers, where the Indian guns could not reach. The plan was successful, but in the process 6 Pakistani soldiers were killed. Having reached directly beneath the two bunkers which were covering the bridge, the Pakistani soldiers took them down by lobbing hand grenades inside. Once the two bunkers were neutralized, Sharif and his men joined Afzal. It was time to destroy the rest of the bunkers.

An intense battle developed as the Pakistani soldiers started raiding the bunkers. In some cases where the Indian soldiers finished their ammunition, they started throwing out their wireless sets on the Pakistanis. Hand to hand combat was also seen occasionally, while in a few cases the Indians ran away, leaving their supplies behind. The most common scene, however, was one in which grenades were lobbed out, and if the Pakistanis survived they would in turn lob one back in. Sharif also had to clear two bunkers himself. While at the first one, he stood next to the bunker and called out the personnel inside to come out. The usual happened and a grenade was tossed out. Sharif, without being able to see properly due to the darkness, reached out, got hold of the explosive, and threw it back inside, stunning the two other men who were neutralizing the bunkers with him. This action was to become the topic of discussion in the entire company for the next two to three hours, and he was unfairly criticised later for being too close to the bunkers in the first place. However, if Sharif hadn't done this, he would have lost his right arm and leg at least. The second bunker was cleared without any daredevil tricks.

The entire operation of clearing the bunkers and taking control of the Saboona Ridge took 30 minutes. Shabir then took out the signal gun and fired a success signal straight up in the air. The other companies were now aware that Sharif and his men had taken control of the Gurmakhera Bridge and the Saboona Ridge. The other companies were to proceed with their attacks, one of which involved capturing the Beriwala village that Sharif had bypassed earlier. It was pitch dark. Sharif and a few men started collecting the bodies of the Pakistani soldiers who had died in the assault. Digging of new bunkers, this time on the opposite side of the ridge than the one facing Pakistan also began simultaneously. It was at that time that an old man's voice was heard from a distance. "We need to go back to Gurmakhera village. The Muslims have attacked Beriwala." Shabbir went closer to the old man. The man could not recognize the Pakistani army uniform due to the darkness. He believed he was talking to an Indian soldier. "I brought my son's barat (wedding procession) to Beriwala in the afternoon. The Muslims have captured the village. We had to run during the rukhsati (last ritual of the wedding)." "Don't you know that there is a war going on?" Shabbir asked in Punjabi. "This is a silly time to have a wedding, that too when you are so close to the border." "Please protect us. I have a whole procession with me here. Even the girl's family is here. We need to get back to our village. The Muslims are coming in this direction." Sharif decided not to waste time, or unnecessarily panic the old fellow. "We will take care of the Muslims. You hurry up and get all your people across. And listen to the radio more frequently for any important announcements." He then called alerted all of his people manning the positions at the bridge that a wedding procession was going to be passing through, and there should be no fire on it. While the procession was crossing over the ridge, a soldier asked Sharif: "Sir. These people are legitimate POWs. Why are we letting them cross?" Shabbir smiled. "Have a heart soldier. This is the happiest day of their lives. Let's not make them spend it inside a cell." When the news of the Pakistani attack reached the opposing brigade commander, Brig. Surjeet Singh, he immediately ordered the Delta company of 4 Jat Regiment (150 men), and a squadron of T-54 tanks to recapture the lost land, specifically the Saboona Ridge and the Gurmakhera Bridge. Although the number of soldiers in the attacking force was more than Shabbir's men, it was the lack of any armour (tanks) on the Pakistani side that made this move appear to be extremely threatening. At 11:00 PM, one of Shabbir's men informed him that he could hear tanks approaching the Gurmakhera Bridge. After Shabbir himself confirmed the noises, he positioned his rocket launchers near the bridge. There were three rocket launchers at his disposal, and two men were required to man each one. There was also some ammunition that had been taken from the defeated Indian forces on the ridge. Two of the rocket launchers were placed in such a manner that the tanks would have to go past them before they could come near the Gurmakhera Bridge or the Saboona Ridge. The third was positioned near Shabbir, to be used as a back up in case the first two failed. When the tanks eventually came in pitch darkness, Shabbir was stunned to see that they passed by the first two positions without any fire from the Pakistani soldiers. Shabbir immediately called the men through wireless, and asked them why they didn't shoot? "Sir, these are Pakistani tanks," a soldier replied from the other side. "No they are not," Shabbir screamed, "Why would our tanks come from the side of the other bridge? That is not in Pakistani control. And I have not been informed of their arrival either from our headquarter. Shoot!" Despite the clarification, there was so much confusion amongst the ranks that no one fired. Shabbir knew that if these had been Pakistani tanks they would have crossed over the ridge 3 km to the West and come as a reinforcement on the Indian side. He got hold of the rocket launcher which was near him, and fired at one of the tanks. When the tank caught flames and illuminated the scene, Sikhs were seen coming out of it. It was at that time that the entire Pakistani force started firing on the Indians. The Indian foot soldiers were closer to the tanks, and they could be easily spotted due to the flames and also due to the aerial advantage that the Pakistani forces had. From the initial 14 tanks that were ordered to attack, only 8 had managed to reach the bridge, and 4 of them had been destroyed in the first 5 minutes of the battle. The others too were safe only because they were out of range of the rocket launchers and Anarga grenades (mounted on G3 rifles) which were at the disposal of the Pakistanis. These adverse circumstances made anything else but the Indian retreat a nonviable option. During this skirmish, 10 Pakistanis were killed and 13 injured, while on the Indian side there were 43 killed, numerous injured and 10 were made POWs, including an officer. Despite the victory, Sharif knew that this was only the beginning, and that having invested so much time in the development of the ridge, the Indians would definitely try to retake it. He immediately contacted the battalion headquarters and asked for further ammunition and landmines. Another mystery surrounding the situation was why the Indians had not blown away Gurmakhera Bridge, which is usual in such war conditions. Around 4:00 AM, an ammunition jeep arrived at the site. There were no confusions on this occasion about its origin. In between, there had been a small attack on Sharif and his positions, but had been easily repulsed as the Indians were much less in number, and there were no tanks involved. When day broke, a search was carried out to find out any Indian soldiers hiding in the captured area. 55 men were rounded up, 3 being officers. Add to these the 10 POWs captured the last night, and Shabbir now had 65 POWs in all. "We should organize a party that escorts them back to our headquarters," an officer suggested to Shabbir. "It is a long walk. Plus I need every one of my men to be here. No point in unnecessarily tiring my men," Shabbir replied. "But they have to be sent back, we cannot keep an eye on them over here forever." After a quiet moment, Shabbir said to the officer: "Ask them to take off their shoes" "What? Shoes?" exclaimed the officer in confusion. "What are we going to do with their shoes?" "Have you ever tried to walk in this area without your shoes?" Shabbir asked. "I have, and I tell you, it is next to impossible to go far without them. Firstly you cannot run very fast, and chances of getting serious injuries on the foot are very high." The officer assembled all the Indian POWs, and asked them to take off their shoes. "They will try to run in any case," the officer privately remarked to Shabbir. "Yes I know," Shabbir said, "I will take care of that as well." He then addressed the Indians. "Listen, you see that tree. You will make a line, put your hands above your heads and run to that tree. Our headquarter is over there. Tell them that you will have been sent by Shabbir Sharif. Now, if anyone tries to run away, or break away from the line, I will shoot him and also the man in front and behind him. From this height I will be able to see all that is happening. If everyone starts running at the same time, I will ask my men here to take part in some duck shooting and we will shoot all. So do not push me." The POWs reached the headquarters without any escort. None tried to escape. Once the POWs had been sent back, Shabbir's men searched the bunkers thoroughly. A wireless set was found, and although it had fixed frequency, the Indians had forgotten to change it during the attack. This gave a tremendous advantage to Shabbir, as he could now listen to the plans that were being made on the Indian side to recapture Gurmakhera Bridge. The other interesting item that was found was a bundle of Indian currency. This was perhaps the salary that was to be distributed amongst the Indian soldiers but had not been done so due to the Pakistani attack. Shabbir ordered the currency to be sent back to the headquarters so that they could give it back after the war, although due to the lack of firewood, a small amount of the currency was burnt to make tea. At 8:30 PM on 4th Dec. 1971, the Indians (4 Jat Regiment) attacked again with a squadron of T-54 tanks. Shabbir knew that they were coming, courtesy the wireless set that had been captured. He was also in a much better position ammunition wise, with now having 102 millimeter anti tank guns, and landmines. The fight took place for only 30 minutes, with the Indians retreating with 14 dead, 21 injured and 8 MIAs. The Pakistani side suffered minor injuries but no casualty. Having suffered three defeats in their effort to retake the Gurmakhera Bridge or the Saboona Ridge, the Indians finally launched a major attack on Shabbir's men on the night of 5th Dec 1971. This attack had the support of 4 Jat and 3 Assam regiments, and T-54 tanks amidst heavy artillery shelling. This was the biggest attack to date on the site, with around 800 men from the Indian side being involved. A company commander from the 4 Jat Regiment, Major Narayan Singh, had sworn before going on this attack that he would either retake the bridge, or would never return. Narayan Singh was also interested in defeating Shabbir Sharif, as for the last two days he had been hearing from his own men that the Pakistani side had a very tough commander with them (something which Singh could not afford to have if he was to keep the morale of his men high). While the battle was going on, Narayan Singh, with a few men, came very close to Shabbir's position. "Where is Shabbir Sharif?" he called out, "If he has the courage, he should come out right now and face me like a man." Shabbir Sharif, being as hot headed as Singh, left his position and jumped in front of him upon the call. Perhaps Narayan Singh could not make out that it was Shabbir Sharif, as it was very dark, and he lobbed a grenade in his direction. The grenade exploded a few feet away from Shabbir, and his shirt caught fire. A few Pakistani soldiers also came out and tried to put out the fire, as Shabbir himself was only obsessed with Narayan Singh's call. Seeing the Pakistani soldiers coming out, some of the Indians accompanying Singh were about to open fire when Singh stopped them. "No firing," he said, "This is a man-to-man fight." Shabbir too, for his part, told his men to step back. The fire on his shirt had been extinguished. Both the Indian and Pakistani soldiers stepped back, but at the same time never took their guns off each other, or their fingers off the triggers. A hand to hand combat followed between Sharif and Singh. The soldiers in the direct vicinity were standing close by as armed spectators. The rest of the soldiers, on the ridge, were at the same time involved in the fierce battle that was taking place due to the Indian attack. Singh had his sten gun in his hand, and Shabbir held his wrist to prevent him from firing. After a short struggle, Shabbir managed to throw Singh on the ground and put his knee on his chest. Taking the sten gun from his hand, he emptied it in Singh's chest. While the Pakistani soldiers came to Sharif to check whether he was alright, those accompanying Singh disappeared in the darkness. The attack subsided yet again in an Indian retreat, although this was done after testing Shabbir's men to their fullest of capabilities. During this attack, there were 3 killed and 11 injured on the Pakistan side, while there were 19 killed, 45 injured, and 34 taken as POWs on the Indian side. 9 Indian tanks were also destroyed in this attack by the Pakistani artillery shelling and anti tank guns (2 or 3 of these tanks were rendered useless for they got stuck in the land before they were taken out). Later, it was revealed that Major Narayan Singh was given Vir Chakra by India, a medal that is equivalent to the Pakistani Sitara-e-Jurrat, for his performance on the battlefield in 1971. Shabbir's right shoulder was badly burnt due to the fire that he had caught while fighting with Singh. When asked by one of his subordinates to go back and get some treatment, he said: "I didn't leave men fighting on the battlefield when I was not responsible for them. This time around I am their commander. Do you think I am going to go back leaving these men who I am supposed to command?" He was referring to the 1965 war, when he, as an ordinary Lieutenant, had been injured severely in the arm. Having gone back to the hospital to treatment, his arm was put in plaster and he was told that he could not take part in the war anymore. He, however, escaped from the hospital and went to the battlefront, where he fought the rest of the war with one arm in plaster! The 5th December attack created a lot of despondency amongst the Indian forces. Terming it a crisis, both GOC Major Gen. Ram Singh, and his Artillery Advisor G.S. Rain took effective charge from Brigadier Surjeet Singh. The Indians attacked yet again at 11:00 AM on 6th Dec. 1971. Shabbir was manning a 102 millimeter gun when a tank fired in his direction. He fired back at the tank and took it out. With a second tank lurking nearby, Shabbir could have abandoned the gun and saved his own life. He instead decided to keep firing at the tank in an attempt to render it useless before it caused any further damage. However, the tank's shell landed only inches away from Shabbir and exploded, throwing Shabbir and two other Pakistani soldiers 5 feet up in the air. Shabbir died seconds after he fell on the ground. His last words were: "Don't lose the bridge." Having seen Shabbir dead, the Pakistani soldiers fought with even more vigor, more out of revenge than for anything else. The Indian attack was beaten back, but at a grave cost. One of the bravest soldiers in the history of the Pakistan army had died. He was given the country's highest gallantry award, Nishan-e-Haider for his actions and eventual sacrifice for his country. This is perhaps the only case in Nishan-e-Haider history, where the gallantry award was given, not for a specific act, but for his inspiring performance throughout the war, until he died. After the War, one of the Indian commanders, Col. Shashi Pal, came to the headquarters in the Pakistan area for talks. He was given the currency that Shabbir had sent back from the bunkers, with due apologies for the currency that had been burnt for making tea. Shashi Pal shook his head slightly and said, "Politics apart, he was a fine soldier." Later it was also found out that the Indians did have the explosives in place to blow up Gurmakhera Bridge. But the remote detonation had not worked for one reason or the other.

Further developments

There were a number of attacks on Saboona Ridge and Gurmakhera Bridge by the Indians between 6 December and 8 December which were repulsed. Pakistani soldiers also captured Gurmakhera village and successfully defended it against an Indian attack on 15–16 December 1971. The army high command for some unknown reason was totally numb. They could not take the decision to attack through the Army Reserves, and take advantage of a situation that Sharif and his men had created for them till the 5th of December. Even the brigade and corps commanders of the Solemanki sector suggested an attack to GHQ, but it took the high command three days just to review and reject it. They have been duly condemned for this hesitancy in the Hamood ur Rehman Report. The reversal during the Longewala, Shakargarh and Sialkot sectors also meant that most of the Army Reserve troops had to be sent to replenish those forces which had been on the losing side. Hence depleted, it was never in a position to attack. Another problem that the GHQ mentioned for their inaction was the lack of coordination between the Air Force and the Army, and also between 2 Corps and 4 Corps which were operating in this area (2 Corp was supposed to attack India). General Niazi's incorrect reports being sent from East Pakistan from 6 December onwards could also have made the GHQ think that perhaps it was pointless to attack India if Niazi could not hold on to East Pakistan. After all, the point of the Western Theatre attack was to diminish Indian forces in the East, and also to make them retreat out of that territory. General Niazi was later recommended for court martial in the Hamood ur Rehman report. The recommendation, however, has not been carried out as yet.

Other accomplishments

He is the only person to have been awarded both the Sitara-e-Jurrat and Nishan-e-Haider, although they were given on separate occasions.

07. Sawar Muhammad Hussain

Sawar Muhammad Hussain Janjua (Urdu: محمد حسین) was born in Janjua family of Dhok Pir Bakhsh (now Dhok Muhammad Hussain Janjua named after him in commemoration of his Gallantry) near Jatli in Gujar Khan on June 18, 1949. He joined Pakistan Army as a driver on September 3, 1966 at a very young age of 17 years[citation needed]. Although he was only a driver he always yearned to participate in active battle.

Born 18 June 1949
Gujar Khan, Punjab
Died 10 December 1971
Zafarwal, Shakargarh
Allegiance Pakistan Army
Years of service 3 September 1966 - 10 December 1971
Rank Jawan
Unit 20th Lancers
Battles/wars 1971 War
Awards Nishan-e-Haider

08. Muhammad Mahfuz

Lance Naik Muhammad Mahfuz Shaheed was born in Pind Malikan (now Mahfuzabad) in Rawalpindi District on October 25, 1944. Muhammad Mahfuz joined Pakistan Army on October 25, 1962 as an infantry soldier.

Born October 25, 1944
Pind Malikan Rawalpindi, British India, present-day Pakistan
Died December 8, 1971
Allegiance Pakistan
Service/branch Pakistan Army
Years of service 1962–1971
Rank Lance Naik
Unit 15 Punjab Regiment
Battles/wars Indo-Pakistan War of 1965
Indo-Pakistan War of 1971
Awards Nishan-e-Haider

Incident leading to Martyrdom (Shahadat)

At the time of India-Pakistan War of 1971, Lance Naik Muhammad Mahfuz was serving in Company “A” of 15 Punjab Regiment deployed on the Wagah-Attari Sector. On the night of December 17–18, his company was assigned the task of occupying Phul Kanjri village located in the same sector. Lance Naik Muhammad Mahfuz was assigned to Platoon No. 3, which was designated as the forward unit in the assault. Thus this Platoon had to face torrential volleys of enemy fire from concrete Pill boxes. When the entire Company “A” was about 70 yards from the Indian position, it was pinned down by an unceasing frontal and cross fire from automatic weapons. On top of that the enemy artillery also opened up its fire with the break of dawn. Mahfuz, whose machine-gun was destroyed by an enemy shell, charged towards the Indian defences. Muhammad Mahfuz advanced towards an enemy bunker whose automatic fire had inflicted heavy casualties. Even though wounded in both legs by shell splinters, when he reached the bunker he stood up and pounced on the enemy, in the encounter he was hit with a bayonet. Although unarmed, he got hold of the enemy but suffered another bayonet wound while trying to strangle an Indian soldier. Due to serious injuries he died on the night of 17 December 1971.



For his supreme courage, Lance Naik Muhammad Mahfuz Shaheed was awarded Nishan-i-Haider, the highest Military award of Pakistan.

09. Karnal Sher Khan

Karnal Sher Khan (1970–1999) (Urdu: کرنل شیر خان) was a Pashtun Pakistan Army officer who is one of only eleven recipients of Pakistan's highest gallantry award, the Nishan-e-Haider. He was a Captain in the 12 Northern Light Infantry (NLI) and, previously in 27 Sindh Regiment of the Pakistan.

Allegiance Pakistan Army
Rank Captain
Unit 12 Northern Light Infantry (NLI)
27 Sindh Regiment
Battles/wars Kargil War
Awards Nishan-e-Haider

Name

Captain Sher Khan was born in Nawan Killi, a village in Swabi District of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. Karnal is a localised form of Colonel. Karnel Sher Khan's home village of Nawan Kali ("New Village") has now been named after him as Karnal Sher Killi ("Village of Karnal Sher Khan").
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Early life

Captain Sher Khan was the youngest of his two brothers and two sisters.[citation needed] His mother died in 1978 when he was eight. He was brought up by his paternal aunts. His family is deeply religious and they say that Sher was an embodiment of piety and Islamic teaching.[citation needed]
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Education and career

After completing his intermediate schooling at the Government College Swabi, he joined the Pakistan Air Force as an airman.[citation needed] On completion of his training, he was appointed electric fitter (aeronautical) at Risalpur. During these years he applied twice for commission in the Pakistan Army as a Commissioned Officer. 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. Always smiling as a devoted soldier, he was fondly called Shera (Lion) and was very popular among his officers and colleagues.[citation needed] In January 1998 he volunteered to serve at the LoC in Kashmir, he was posted in 12 NLI.

Kargil conflict

Captain Sher Khan was posthumously awarded Pakistan's highest gallantry award, the Nishan-e-Haider, for his actions during the Kargil Conflict with India in 1999.

The following is the official statement by the Pakistan Army:[1]
"Captain Karnal Sher Khan emerged as the symbol of mettle and courage during the Kargil conflict on the Line of Control (LoC). He set personal examples of bravery and inflicted heavy losses on the enemy. He defended the five strategic posts, which he established with his Jawan's at the height of some 17,000 feet at Gultary, and repulsed many Indian attacks. After many abortive attempts, the enemy on July 5 ringed the post of Capt. Sher Khan with the help of two battalion and unleashed heavy Mortar firing and managed to capture some part of the post. Despite facing all odds, he lead a counter-attack and tried to re-capture the lost parts. But during the course he was hit by the machine-gun fire and embraced Shahadat or martyrdom at the same post. He is the first officer from the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province to be awarded with Nishan-e-Haider."

10. Lalak Jan

Havaldar Lalak Jan Shaahed (Urdu: لالک جان; 1967 – 7 July 1999) was born in Yasin, in the Ghizer District, of the Northern Areas of Pakistan (now called Gilgit-Baltistan). After school he joined the Pakistan Army, and reached the rank of Havaldar.

Born Yasin, in the Ghizer District(now called Gilgit-Baltistan )
Died 7 July 1999
Allegiance Pakistan
Service/branch Pakistani Army
Years of service 1995–1999
Rank Havaldar (Sergeant)
Unit Northern Light Infantry
Battles/wars Kargil War
Awards Nishan-i-Haider

Northern Light Infantry deployment

As a junior officer in the Northern Light Infantry, Jan fought against India in the Kargil War of 1999.

Tiger Hill in the Kargil Sector had been occupied by around 130 men of 12th NLI (Northern Light Infantry) unit of the Pakistan Army. These men were under the command of Subedar Sikander, who was given the responsibility to capture Indian territory (which was under Indian control after the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971). Havaldar Major Lalak Jan was his 2IC (second in command). The men of 12th NLI were ordered by the Subedar to change their positions while firing back at the Indian forces.

Kargil War

On 1 July 1999, the 18th Grenadiers Battalion (India) launched a fierce attack on Tiger Hill, occupied by the Pakistani Army, under cover of heavy artillery shelling around the bunkers. Subedar Sikandar sneaked across the Line of Control and placed his men in well-entrenched positions, and managed to repulse the attack without any loss of life on their own part. Exact casualty figures for the attacking Indian 18th Grenadiers Battalion, are not available.

On the morning of 2 July 1999, hoping to use the cover of the mist, the 18th Grenadiers launched another intense attack on Tiger Hills. Realizing the great difficulty in holding their previous positions that had been spotted and zeroed-in by the Indian artilliery deployed below, Subedar Sikandar ordered his men to retreat to secondary positions around a secret bunker. Once the men were secure, he directed Lalak Jan to descend Tiger Hill and, amidst the Indian Artillery shelling, plant the landmines in the area in front of the Indian forces. Though this was deemed a nearly impossible task by all, the Subedar and the 2IC agreed that this task was very important, if they were to make a dent in the Indian offensive. Planting the landmines was the only way for them to neutralize the Indian armor and artillery, as the men of 12th NLI did not have any heavy/armour-piercing weaponry; their light-attack unguided (RPG-7)s were inadequate for the task. They were hoping that the mist under which's cover the Indians were attacking, would help Lalak Jan as well, and that the Indians would not be expecting such an audacious and surprising move from the men holed up above.

Mountain combat

Accepting the daunting task, Lalak Jan descended Tiger Hills in the mist. He was provided as fierce a cover as possible, to keep the Indians distracted. Lalak Jan, born and raised in the foothills of the Himalayan Mountain Ranges in northern Pakistan, used his natural mountaineering abilities to the fullest, and managed to plant the landmines in such a manner that the Indians would encounter them as soon as they tried to move forward to new positions higher up towards the hill.

Lalak Jan returned to 12th NLI's position, having successfully completed this mission.

The trap was now set; The men had to lure the Indian forces into it. Subedar Sikandar told his men to gradually reduce the firing to a standstill.

About two hours after firing ceased from the Pakistan side, the Indians ventured forward, hoping that they'd managed to clear the area of the 12th NLI. The landmines planted by Lalak Jan wrought havoc to their forward movements. The Indians are believed to have suffered heavy casualties, suffering losses in both men and armor. This incident was not publicized by the Indian side however, due to which the exact amount of damage is not known. The damage was severe enough, in any case, that 18th Grenadiers battalion did not attack the Tiger Hills positions for around half a week, until support arrived in the form of another Indian Unit, eight Sikh.

On 6 July, both the 18th Grenadiers battalion and the 8th Sikh launched a combined attack on Tiger Hills, in what many consider one of the fiercest battles of the Kargil Operation. Detachments of Indian soldiers launched an attack from the very high, steep side of the hills. The 12th NLI was not expecting an attack from this side, and it took them by surprise. The NLI fought this battle at a heavy cost. Over half the 12th NLI unit's strength was lost in the fighting that ensued, suffering 80 casualties out of the unit's total strength of around 130. Casualties including Subedar Sikander, who had commanded the unit in this battle so far. In the course of the fighting that ensued, some number of bunker fortifications held by the NLI unit were completely destroyed by the Indians, launching surprise attacks and dropping grenades into them.

Towards the end of the engagement, only Havaldar Lalak Jan and three other men remained. The onslaught of the Indians was continuing and they were rapidly advancing towards capturing the hills. Lalak Jan, now the senior most person around, placed his three men in strategic positions, assigning two to three positions per person, and ordering them to rapidly fire from different positions. These men, pitted against an enemy vastly superior in number and weaponry, managed to repulse the Indian onslaught, in a saga of sheer courage and great determination.

On 7 July 1999, the 18th Grenadiers battalion and the 8th Sikh unit launched yet another combined offensive. This time they succeeded in their attack. Two of Lalak Jan's men were killed, and Lalak Jan and his only other remaining comrade in arms, Bakhmal Jan were both seriously injured. Not giving up, Lalak Jan got hold of a LMG and while Bakhmal Jan provided him with the ammunition, and the two men desperately kept trying to repulse the Indian attack. Lalak Jan's left arm had been rendered useless after receiving bullet wounds to it. Bakhmal Jan, unable to sustain his grave injuries, died while supplying the ammunition to Lalak Jan.

From there on, in one of the most stunning demonstrations of determination and courage in military history.

After the Indian offensive had subsided, reinforcements (50 to 60 men) were sent to Tiger Hill under Captain Amer. When he saw the condition of Lalak Jan he told him to go back to the base camp on account of his severe injuries, his arm being shot and completely limp, and in no condition to be used. Lalak Jan told the captain that he did not want to die on a hospital bed, and would rather die in the battlefield. He reassured his Captain that he should not worry about the bullet wounds in Lalak's arm, that Lalak Jan could still be of some use in the battlefield.

Around this time, soon after Captain Amer's reinforcements arrived, the Indians started shelling from a secret, out-of-sight bunker in an adjacent hill. The command of the handful of troops at Tiger Hill had been taken up by Captain Amer. He realized that the fire was coming from a secret bunker and also directed fire towards it, but zeroing in and targeting the bunker proved exceedingly difficult. The exact reason for the failure of this fire by Captain Amer's forces is not confirmed. Three likely reasons come to mind however. The secret bunker might have been very well designed and protected by the mountainsides, the fire might not have been directed properly or thirdly, the bunker was not in range of the light weaponry possessed by the Pakistanis atop Tiger Hill.

There was only one way left to counter the secret Indian bunker; it had to be blown up from a closer range.

Lalak Jan, despite his injuries, volunteered for the mission, but his plea was rejected by the captain. Having significant experience of the mountains himself, the captain was of the opinion that he would be the best man to do it, himself. The captain relented in the end, on Lalak Jan's persistent insistence that his audacious landmine installation experience and his mountaineering skills would enable him to have a fighting chance to complete this task.

Final combat

Lalak Jan put a bag of explosives on his back, and while shouldering an AK-47 descended Tiger Hills for the second time, again amidst heavy Indian shelling. Managing to avoid being seen by the Indian forces, and utilizing his knowledge of the surrounding hills to take cover, he located the secret bunker and threw the explosives inside the bunker.

The bunker, which incidentally was also an ammunition dump, blew up in a very big blast. Lalak Jan managed to take cover, and the Indian Army lost 16 men inside and nearby the bunker. The other Indian soldiers saw Lalak Jan and opened fire on him. Surrounded from all sides by Indian fire, Lalak Jan made a valiant effort to resist and returned fire.

He sustained grave injuries, especially as a result of heavy mortar shelling.
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Death

On 15 September 1999, the commanding officer of 12th NLI sent two Special Service Group Comando groups to Tiger Hills to recover the body of Lalak Jan. The two forces were designated 'Ababeel' and 'Uqaab'(Eagle). Ababeel provided the fire cover while Uqaab went into the destroyed enemy bunker to retrieve the body of Lalak Jan. When his body was found, Havaldar Lalak Jan had his AK-47 firmly clenched to his chest.

Pakistan awarded him the Nishan-i-Haider, Pakistan’s highest military award, for extraordinary gallantry. Only ten soldiers have ever received this honour. Jan was the first person from the Northern Areas of Pakistan to receive the award.

11. Saif Ali Janjua

Naik Saif Ali Janjua Pakistan Army Azad Kashmir Regiment (Sher-e-Riasti Battalion) was a platoon commander during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1947. He received the Hilal-e-Kashmir from the government of Azad Kashmir, which is equal to Nishan-e-Haider, the highest military award given by Pakistan. He fought in the Kashmir sector during the 1948 War and was killed there.

Nickname Naik Saif Ali Khan
Born April 25, 1925
Khandbaz(Khandhar) Tehsil Nakial, Kashmir
Died October 10, 1948 (aged 23)
Buddha Khanna, Azad Kashmir, Pakistan
Buried at Azad Kashmir, Pakistan
Allegiance United Kingdom
Pakistan
Service/branch British Army
Pakistan Army
Years of service 1941-1948
Rank Naik
Unit Royal Corps of Engineers
Azad Kashmir Regiment (Sher-e-Riasti Battalion)
Battles/wars Indo-Pakistan War of 1947
Awards Hilal-e-Kashmir - an equivalent to Nishan-i-Haider (Military)

Early life and military career

Naik Saif Ali Khan was born on 25 April 1922 in Khandbaz(Khandhar) Tehsil Nakial (Azad Jammu and Kashmir). He was enlisted in the Royal Corps of Engineers in British Indian Army on 18 March 1941. After completing his service in the British Indian Army in 1947, he came back to his native town and started establishing Haidri Force with the support of Sardar Fateh Muhammad Karailvi. After the creation of Pakistan, he was inherited into the Pakistan Army. Due to his engineering background, he was inducted in Pakistan Army Corps of Engineers where he was stationed in the Kashmir region. Before starting the war, he served in the Pakistan Army's civil projects that were started in Kashmir region.


Indo-Pakistani War of 1947-1948

On 1 January 1948, Pakistan Army was raised as “Sher-e-Riasti Battalion” under the command of Lt. Col. Muhammad Sher Khan. Due to his courage and commitment, he was given the rank of naik and was made platoon commander. He set personal examples of gallantry and inflicted heavy losses on the enemy at Bhudha Khanna where his platoon was given the responsibility to defend Budha Khanna where he faced never-ending frontal and crossfire from machine guns.

Final phase of war

Janjua and his few jawans defended his post and repulsed many aggressive ventures by the Indians and imposed colossal losses on them. The enemy used every mean to capture the post with two companies attack and heavy artillery bombardment, but was unsuccessful. During the course of action, despite being hit in the chest by artillery fire, Janjua retained his position and frustrated the Indian assault. Due to severe injuries he died on 26 October 1948.
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Honors and recognitions

On 14 March 1949, the Defence Council of Azad Jammu and Kashmir adorned him with Hilal-e-Kashmir (posthumous) and on 30 November 1995, the Government of Pakistan initiated the gazette notification to declare his Hilal-e-Kashmir equivalent to Nishan-e-Haider.