21st martyrdom anniversary of Kargil War heroes observed

The 21st martyrdom anniversary of Captain Karnal Sher Khan Shaheed Nishan-e-Haider and Havaldar Lalak Jan Shaheed Nishan-e-Haider was observed on Tuesday at their native towns in Khyber-Pakhtunkwa's Swabi and Gilgit-Baltistan's Ghizer districts respectively.

The wreath-laying ceremonies were held to pay homage to the sacrifices made by the two soldiers in the line of duty to safeguard Pakistan's territorial integrity and sovereignty.

On behalf of Chief Of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa, Force Commander Northern Areas Major General Ehsan Mehmood Khan, laid floral wreath at Havaldar Lalak Jan Shaheed’s grave, while Commandant Malakand Task Force laid floral wreath at the grave of Captain Karnal Sher Khan Shaheed.

People from various walk of life, civil and military officials, and relatives of the martyrs attend the ceremony.

The army chief paid tribute to the Kargil War heroes and said that the martyrs wrote history with their blood against all odds.

As per a tweet from the Inter-Services Public Relations Director General, the COAS paid glowing tributes to the war heroes, saying the nation was proud of their courage and their unfaltering allegiance to the motherland's defence.

"There is nothing more honourable than laying one’s life for defence of the motherland. Nation is proud of its gallant sons for valour and unwavering allegiance to defend the country, regardless of the cost," he wrote.

Captain Karnal Sher Khan and Havaldar Lalak Jan embraced martyrdom at the Gultari sector on the Line of Control in 1999 during the Kargil conflict.

Captain Sher Khan and Havaldar Lalak Jan are two of the 10 recipients of the country’s highest military award, Nishan-e-Haider.