Kargil War 1999: How Indian Army officer's letter appreciating a Pak soldier got him the highest military award

Wars represent the worst of humanity but it also brings out the most heart-touching tales of selflessness! This selflessness, can somehow make someone think that most people won't understand but only the soldier on the other side has a lot in common with them will be able to understand.

 

 

Similarly, there is one such tale of the Kargil War 1999 that saw India's victory over Pakistan for ousting enemy forces from their occupied positions on the mountaintops of the Northern Kargil District in Ladakh. But it was also a dark phase in the history of both India and Pakistan as the two neighboring countries faced heavy casualties and scars that would last a lifetime.

 

It's been years of bravery and silent tears for the families of the soldiers who laid their lives on both sides of the borders. And the stories of these valiant heroes are narrated with pride and honour.

 

One such story of selflessness is that of Indian Army officer, Brigadier M.P.S. Bajwa and Captain Sher Khan of Pakistan who was awarded the country's highest gallantry award, the 'Nishan-E-Haider'.

 

 

During the Kargil War, Brigadier Bajwa did something unusual that one would think of billions of times before doing it.

 

He wrote a letter to the Pakistan government, appreciating the efforts of Captain Karnal Sher Khan, and this letter earned the Pakistani officer - Nishan-e-Haider, the highest gallantry award in his country.

 

 

Most of us know the tale of capturing Tiger Hill, which was a vital base for both countries. Brigadier M.P.S. Bajwa was in charge of capturing the Tiger Hill.

 

In the initial stages, it felt easy for the forces to capture it, however, Pakistan's Captain Khan made things tough for the Indian Army. There came a time wherein officers of both countries were wounded. 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 realized it was important to take down the Pakistani officer, so directions were issued.

 

Sepoy Singh and two other soldiers managed to kill three leading Pakistani soldiers, and shot Captain Khan from 10 yards.

 

They killed Pak soldiers, won Tiger Hill

 

 

When the bodies were being brought down to the base, Brigadier M.P.S. Bajwa found a letter to Khan from his wife, written in Urdu – and when his body was being sent to Delhi, the Indian Army officer expressed the desire to hand it over to Pakistan with a note appreciating the bravery of their soldier with a hand-written citation.

 

 

 

 

Things did get difficult when Pakistan refused to accept the body to maintain its so-called stand that its Army was not involved in the war, but later, it accepted the fact and awarded Khan with Nishan-e-Haider.

 

Touched by the gesture, Khan’s family wrote back to the Indian Army, thanking it for honoring their son.