Tale Of A Forgotten Hero And A Proud Army

This is something I am really proud of and having been coming from Army background makes the feeling even more cherishing. In this particular post I have tried to illustrate that aspect of the Indian Army (collectively our Defence Forces) not known to many.  The way we treat our enemies is what makes us unique from the rest of the forces in the world and that is something which tags the Indian Army as an honourable force of gentlemen.

We all know what happened in 1999 in Kargil, Pakistan playing its usual ‘Azad Kashmir’ card but now this time only with its regular soldiers disguised as mujahedeens. The conflict which could have resulted in an all-out war between the two neighbouring nuclear-power states came to an end with India decisively winning and driving out the Pakistani forces and recapturing Kargil. Both the Indian as well as Pakistani forces suffered massive damages. One must note that Pakistan for very long did not even admit that those fighting the Indian forces were its soldiers, regulars. And this is painful, detestable, knowing that they were also fighting for their country rulers of which chose to dump them when they most needed their support.

One such Pakistani war hero during Kargil conflict was Captain Sher Khan, forgotten by his own people back home. He was awarded the Nishan-i-Haider  posthumously, Pakistan’s highest gallantry award on the recommendation of his adversary, the Indian Army. He came from a tribal area in Waziristan where his family resides. Upon asked of what they felt about the Indian Army they said, ‘his enemy’ are a brave one, they don’t believe in rest of the Pakistanis who say Indians are coward as they have openly acknowledged the brave heart Captain Sher Khan.

Nishan-e-haider

Captain Sher Khan had led an assault on the Indian Army to recapture Tiger Hill. The Indian Army accepts the fact that the attack by Captain Khan and his men was a very severe one; his force gave a stiff resistance to the Indian men and in the process lost his life fighting for his country - Pakistan. His valour might not have been acknowledged by Pakistan but Indian Army openly acknowledges his spirit to fight for his country, the way he carried out the whole operation and the tenacity he showed in the battlefield.

Almost 10 years after accepting the fact that indeed the disguised mujahedeens were infact Pakistani regular soldiers, Captain Khan is a folk hero in his hometown. This unprecedented nature of the Indian Army, to fight but with honour surely makes it a unique force in the entire world.

On the other hand, the Pakistani Army captured many Indian soldiers during the Kargil operation and rather than treating them as prisoners of war (POWs) , they tortured them inhumanly to death. Captain Kalia, of the 4 Jat Regiment, along with five soldiers - sepoys Arjun Ram, Bhanwar Lal Bagaria, Bhika Ram, Moola Ram and Naresh Singh were taken captive by Pakistani troops May 15, 1999.They were tortured for weeks before being killed. Their mutilated bodies were handed over to the Indian authorities on June 9 that year. Similar treatment was also given to another Indian soldier of the Indian Air Force Squadron Leader Ajay Ahuja.

A special stamp released by government of Pakistan in 1973, to plead the return of the 90,000 Pakistani prisoners of war captured by the Indian forces during the 1971 war.

The Indian Army has had a history of such incidents to its honour; remember what happened during the 1971 Indo-Pak War in the East Pakistan! After losing the war, 93000 Pakistani soldiers were taken captive as POWs. They were guarded by the very Indian soldiers whom they fought earlier, barely a fortnight before, from a possible Bengali retribution and were transported safely across the border.They were given food, clothing,medical treatments and in some special cases they were also allowed to keep their weapons with them for self defence in case of any attacks; utmost care was taken to ensure the treaty of Geneva Convention was upheld.

The victorious Indian Army in 1999

There are a few things which make us feel really proud and happy as Indians and our Defence Forces are right there at the top.

Would like to end the way it is better said by our brave Jawans “Indian Army Ki Jai”.