On the 26th anniversary of his death, Pakistan Army Chief General Asim Munir, along with top military officials, paid tribute to Captain Karnal Sher Khan, hailing him as a symbol of “unwavering courage and patriotism” during the 1999 Kargil War. The gesture, however, has also reignited memories in India of Pakistan’s initial refusal to accept his body after the war.

Captain Karnal Sher Khan, who was posthumously awarded Pakistan’s highest military honour, the Nishan-e-Haider, was killed in the Dras sub-sector during the Kargil conflict. His body was recovered by the Indian Army near Tiger Hill. At the time, Indian authorities reportedly attempted to hand over the remains, but Pakistan denied any involvement in the conflict and refused to accept the body.

According to a statement from the Indian Embassy in Washington dated July 15, 1999, Pakistan was deliberately avoiding acknowledgement of its regular troops' participation in the Kargil intrusion. The statement noted, “It is clear that Pakistan is fully aware of the identities of these bodies, but they do not wish to acknowledge this fact as it would immediately expose their army's involvement in Kargil... They are doing a great disservice to the families of their soldiers and to the traditions of armed forces everywhere.”

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Captain Sher Khan Honoured As National Hero

Over two decades later, Captain Sher Khan is being celebrated as a national hero in Pakistan. In a post on X, Pakistan’s Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) shared, “Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, NI (M), Chief of Army Staff, Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, Chief of Air Staff, Chief of Naval Staff, and the Armed Forces of Pakistan solemnly commemorate and pay heartfelt tribute to Captain Karnal Sher Khan Shaheed, Nishan-e-Haider...”

The post praised him as “a symbol of unwavering courage and patriotism” and commended his “supreme sacrifice,” adding that his actions reflected the selflessness and devotion that define Pakistan’s armed forces.

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While Sher Khan is now widely honoured in Pakistan, being the only Nishan-e-Haider recipient from the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, the initial reaction to his death paints a starkly different picture. The Pakistani state once disowned his presence in the war zone, only to later embrace him as a national icon. An Indian Army officer reportedly placed a letter in Sher Khan’s pocket detailing his bravery, which ultimately played a crucial role in revealing his identity.