A true son of the soil remembered

The Pakistan Army on Sunday paid tribute to Naik Saif Ali Janjua, NH, on the 72nd anniversary of his martyrdom for his “gallantry” and “forever reminding the country of its commitment to Kashmir”.

“His immortal action is a glowing precedent for those struggling to restore the sanctity of land that he laid his life for. Nation venerates his sacrifice,” read a statement issued by the military’s media wing.

Naik Saif Ali of the 18 Azad Kashmir Regiment, son of Malik Muhammad Masoom Khan, was born in Tehsil Nakial of Kotli in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) and embraced martyrdom at the age of 25 in Pir Kalewa, Mendhar Sector of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).

He had joined the Royal Corps of the British Indian Army as a sepoy on March 18, 1941. He served overseas for four years during World War II.

When the war ended, his unit sailed back to the subcontinent, and remained stationed at Jalandhar and Lahore.

After completing his service in the British Indian Army in1947, Saif Ali returned to his native town and started establishing the Haidri Force with the support of Sardar Fateh Muhammad Karailvi.

On January 1, 1948, the Haidri Force was raised to battalion strength and named as Sher-e-Riasti Battalion under the command of Lt Col Muhammad Sher Khan. Later during the reorganisation phase of the Azad Kashmir Regular Forces (AKRF), Sher-e-Riasti Battalion‖ was designated as 18 Azad Kashmir Battalion.

Saif Ali Janjua showed exceptional leadership qualities, and was promoted as a Naik, well before his time and appointed as platoon commander -- an appointment normally given to officers or junior commissioned officers.

When the Indian forces after landing in Srinagar on October 27, 1947, advanced with the intention to capture the whole of Kashmir, the Sher-e-Riasti Battalion (18AK) of the Pakistan Army defended the area with their blood.

During this period of reorganisation of freedom fighters, a major Indian offensive supported by armour, artillery, and airforce to establish link-up with Poonch was gaining momentum in Mendhar Sector.

A platoon of the Sher-e-Riasti Battalion‖, commanded by Naik Saif Ali Janjua, was deployed on the dominant Pir Kalewa feature.

The Indians attacked with 5 and 19 Brigade at Pir Kalewa on October 20, 1948, but these attempts were repulsed every time.

On the night of October 25-26, 1948, an Indian attack by the 5 Brigade Group with armour in support and occasional air strikes commenced.

Naik Saif ordered his platoon to engage the assaulting troops with all available firepower. He led his men gallantly and continued shouting slogans of encouragement while also passing instructions. Meanwhile, a complete section had suffered heavy casualties, but Naik Saif single-handedly held the position until the arrival of reinforcements.

He himself took over the Bren gun and started effectively engaging advancing enemy soldiers from an open place.

Four Indian attempts against Pir Kalewa post had also been repulsed

Naik Saif suffered heavy loss of blood from his wounds; however, he dragged himself around to collect ammunition from the dead and wounded, and distributed it personally to the surviving soldiers.

He was reorganising and repositioning his surviving men to face another fresh wave of enemy assault, which was preceded by even heavier and intense artillery shelling, when an artillery shell hit him fatally.

The Indians could not succeed in capturing the post despite heavy losses due to bravery of Naik Saif. Due to the severe injuries, he embraced martyrdom on October 26, 1948.

While acting as a platoon commander, he set personal examples in gallantry and inflicted heavy losses on the enemy.

For his unique selfless conduct and devotion to duty, Naik Saif Ali was awarded the Hilal-i-Kashmir (posthumous), the highest operational award of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, on March 14, 1949.

The Pakistan government, on November 30, 1995, notified the equivalence of Hilal-i-Kashmir with Nishan-i-Haider.

Naik Saif Ali Janjua Shaheed became the 9th recipient of Nishan-i-Haider.

He left behind his wife, Zohra Bibi, and three children, Muhammad Siddique, Muhammad Raffique and Tasweer Begum.