In a dramatic turn of narrative, Pakistan has posthumously honoured Captain Karnal Sher Khan—one of its soldiers killed during the 1999 Kargil War—after initially refusing to accept his body or acknowledge his military status. On Saturday, Pakistan Army Chief General Asim Munir led tributes to Captain Khan at his tomb in Swabi, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, on his 26th death anniversary, describing him as a symbol of courage and patriotism.
During the Kargil conflict, Pakistan denied the involvement of its regular army troops, branding the intruders as “mujahideen”. Captain Khan’s body was recovered by Indian forces on Tiger Hill in the Dras sector, with clear evidence of his identity. Yet Islamabad refused to accept the body, delaying its return and refusing to acknowledge Khan’s service.
In a remarkable gesture, Indian Army officer Brigadier MPS Bajwa (then commander of the 192 Mountain Brigade) was so impressed by Khan’s bravery that he wrote a citation and placed it in Khan’s pocket before the body was returned via the International Committee of the Red Cross. That act, and the documentation found on Khan, eventually forced Pakistan to acknowledge his identity. He was posthumously awarded the Nishan-e-Haider, Pakistan’s highest military honour.
On Saturday, General Munir and senior Pakistani officers visited Khan’s tomb, laying wreaths and lauding his sacrifice. Pakistan’s military public relations office, DG-ISPR, posted that Captain Khan’s actions “remain an eternal source of inspiration” and that he “led from the front while defending the country’s sovereignty.”
India had begun returning the bodies of fallen soldiers to Pakistan starting July 12, 1999, through the ICRC. Despite knowing the identities of soldiers like Captain Khan, Pakistan asked the ICRC not to disclose names, fearing it would expose direct military involvement. A July 15, 1999 statement by the Indian Embassy in Washington revealed that Islamabad’s denial was part of an effort to preserve its narrative and avoid accountability.
Today, Pakistan celebrates Captain Khan as a hero, but the delayed recognition underscores a deeper hypocrisy—one where political narratives once denied even the dignity of a soldier’s name and grave.
