A Prompt Critique of ISIS’s Statement on the Paris Attacks

                                                    In the Name of Allāh, the Most Merciful,
                                                                   the Bestower of Mercy
Following the Paris attacks, ISIS released an official statement claiming responsibility for the suicide bombings and shootings that killed at least 127 people in France.
This statement is part of a marketing campaign by ISIS to attract supporters based on ideological lines and political sentiment.

Any sensible person can see that ISIS is void of any Islamic integrity and basic principles of morality. ISIS “is not an expression of traditional Islam or fundamentalist Islam; it is a new understanding of Islam, cloaked in western revolutionary ideology.”

Allah cautioned Muslims in the noble Quran about carelessly accepting the justification of tyrants and murderers for their criminal conduct. An example of this is Allah’s condemnation of Pharaoh, who was responsible for many crimes amongst which was mass genocide, even though Pharaoh claimed:

“I show you only that which I see [correct], and I guide you only to the path of right policy.” [Ghāfir: 29]

I hope that this helps, even if only minutely, to comprehend the objectives and realities of this heretical group.

A qualitative analysis of the statement:
1. To justify the murder of non-combatants ISIS used the word “crusader” five times in a single paged declaration. They also referred to France as “the carrier of the banner of the Cross in Europe.” This is no coincidence. It is a flimsy attempt to justify islamically the massacre of innocent men, women and children. This reasoning is flawed from two angles:
i. The word “crusader” –Ṣalībī in Arabic– is classically used to describe the Christians who entered the Muslim lands under the pretense of ridding Bayt al-Maqdis (the Sanctified Territory) and the surrounding areas of Islamic rule. How is this applicable to civilians walking the streets of Paris?
ii. If they argue that they are using “crusader” as a synonymous term for “Ḥarbī [combatant of war], then this is also unacceptable, as it is forbidden in Islamic law to murder non-combatants, women and children, even at times of combat. How is this applicable to men, women and children at a stadium, watching an international football match or indulging in other pastimes?

The use of such language is not only intended to provide religious context for these rabid psychopaths, but also to provide the islamophobes and the far right with ammunition to demonize all Muslims, and thus further polarize already fragile societies. A technique that is crucial for the success of any fringe movement.
The strategy is clear –and worryingly it appears to be working in some countries– to isolate peaceful Muslim minorities, subject them to further hostilities, force governments to define their version of an ‘acceptable Islam’ and then appear as the Islamic vanguard and savior to fight this injustice, recruiting the disenchanted youth produced by such a climate.
2. The misusage of Quranic passages. In the statement ISIS explicitly quoted two verses from the Quran and alluded to numerous others.
This is not a new phenomenon; rather, as Imam al-Shātibī, a famous jurist and scholar, stated:
“You will not find an innovator, who is attributed to this religion, except that he endeavors to validate his heresy with a divine text, so he applies it according to his logic and ulterior desires.”2
They quoted two verses:
i. “And they thought that their fortresses would defend them from Allah! But Allah's (Torment) reached them from a place whereof they expected it not, and He cast terror into their hearts, so that they destroyed their own dwellings with their own hands and the hands of the believers. Then take admonition, O you with eyes (to see).” [Al-Ḥashr: 2]

ii. “But honor, power and glory belong to Allah, His Messenger (Muhammad), and to the believers, but the hypocrites know not.” [Al-Munāfiqūn: 8]
The first verse has been applied so out of context it is farcical, which proves that the target audience is lacking any basic Islamic education. The verse in question is referring to a group from the people of the scripture who had a covenant with the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), who was the head of the Islamic state at the time.
These individuals violated this agreement and conspired to murder the Prophet, believing that their fortresses would inevitably protect them. News of this reached the Prophet and he commanded them to vacate their fortresses, due to their violation of the peace treaty. Fear gripped their hearts and they were left with no alternative but to depart from what they once viewed as impenetrable walls.3
How can this be compared to civilians dining at a restaurant? How can this be compared to shooting innocent humans with Kalashnikovs like they are ducks?
As for the second verse, then it suffices us to ask what honor is gained from murdering humans in this fashion. This is the epitome of cowardice; and to quote a Quranic passage reveals how sick and indoctrinated this group is.
3. They attempt to dehumanize the victims of these attacks by lavishly praising the perpetrators, while portraying their targets as being worthless entities with no worth and no rights.
i. “The capital of prostitution and obscenity.”
ii. “Put the nose of his enemy in the ground.”
iii. “Streets of Paris and its rotten alleys.”
iv. “Hundreds of apostates had gathered in a profligate prostitution party.”
v. “The death of no less than 100 crusaders.”
Let us not forget that they are talking about human beings. Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) once mentioned a man whom Allāh admitted in to paradise because he quenched the thirst of a dog by giving it water. A scholar of Islam, Shaykh Ibn al-ʿUthaymīn, commented on the aforementioned tradition by saying, “What about a human being?”
Furthermore, the most immoral sin in Islam is idolatry [Shirk], and at the time of the Prophet the blessed Kaʿbah in Mecca, which was built by Prophet Abraham, was inhabited by various idols and it was under the control of his arch-enemies. However, this was never used as a justification to massacre innocent people, even during the periods in which great hostility was shown to the Prophet and his companions.
This type of reasoning has been formulated by heterodox sects to mask their insanity and filthy souls. No sensible person agrees with this, let alone a religion that has so much concern for the creatures of God that it even addresses the rights of an ant upon a human being.
4. They attempt to market their group as legitimate representatives of Islam and the Muslims. They refer to themselves as:
i. “Soldiers of the Caliphate.”
ii. “The Islamic State.”
iii. “The Muslims in the heart of the Caliphate.”
Shaykh al‐Islām Ibn Taymīyah (may Allāh have mercy upon him) emphasized the need for investigation and caution when fringe elements start screaming Jihad. He stated:
“However, it is obligatory to differentiate between the legislated Jihad, which Allāh and His Messenger have commanded with, and the heretical Jihad which is the Jihad waged by misguided individuals who perform Jihad in obedience to the Devil, but they believe that they are performing Jihad in obedience to The Most Merciful (al‐Raḥmān). This is like the Jihad of the people of innovation and misguidance such as the Khawārij (extremist renegades) and other than them…” Al-Radd ʿAlā al-Akhnā’ī (p. 205)
5. They portray the perpetrators as martyrs:
i. “Youths who divorced the world and went to their enemy seeking to be killed in the cause of Allah.”
ii. “So they were honest with Allah…”
iii. “We ask Allah to accept them among the martyrs and make us follow them.”
This is not unique to this era, the person responsible for murdering the fourth Caliph, a relative of Prophet Muhammad, adopted similar beliefs to ISIS, and when he struck ʿAlī Abū Ṭālib with his sword he recited a verse about those who sell their souls for Allah’s sake.
Like ISIS, this individual belonged to a fringe movement who were at odds with the main body of Muslims.
When groups or individuals appeared in the past calling to Jihad, the scholars would carefully scrutinize these claims, asking questions such as,
“Did they raise their sword and strike with it according to the teachings of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) or according to [a set of] heretical beliefs.” This was stated by the Prophet’s companion, Ibn Masʿūd. Al-Bidaʿ Wa al-Nahy ʿAnhā
Bathing in the blood of innocent people is not a path to martyrdom, but a way to Hell, and taking one’s own life is suicide, which is deserving, according to Islamic texts, of repetitive torment in the Hereafter.
6. The language is pretentious and dramatic, as if someone is describing a Hollywood movie:
i. “Blessed Paris Invasion.”
ii. “Allah conquered through their hands.”
iii. “The fool of France.”
iv. “Paris shook under their feet.”
v. “The smell of death will never leave their noses.”
vi. “This attack is the first of the storm.”
The reason ISIS chooses to employ such melodramatic language is to entice the youth. Islamic scholars throughout the ages, based on Prophetic traditions, described how those most affected by the bravado of extremists are normally the ‘gullible, foolish youth.”
For someone without Islamic knowledge growing up in the inner cities, facing daily challenges, especially those with bleak prospects, this rhetoric and the choreographed images on the net might be appealing.
Defeating ISIS, no doubt, requires a multifaceted approach and the most integral part of this strategy is to provide accurate counter-narratives by qualified individuals upon sound readings of religious texts. Such rigorously developed authentic narratives should then be made readily available to everyone in a professional and academic manner. This serves the objective of invalidating the fallacious rhetoric of the extremists as well as educating a confused and distraught non-Muslim audience, leading them to be fair and just in their own analysis and their interactions with Muslims.

The Writer Tweets at @ISIStinger

Book Review: Fallacies and Realties An Analysis of Lt. Gen Gul Hassan Memoir

Maj. Gen. Aboobaker Osman Mitha has a provided a very brief account of Lt. Gen. Gul Hassan’s memoir. To make it more understandable, I will segregate it into following.

1.     Introduction

a.      About Book

Maj. Gen. Mitha’s book Fallacies and realities is a rejoinder to Lt. Gen. Gul Hasssan’s Memoir termed as plethora of stories by Mitha himself. Fallacies and Realities provide a brief account for the instances made by Gul Hassan in his Memoir against the then C-in-C, other seniors and Mitha. Since, many of the accused in Gul Hassan’s book are dead or no one to corroborate or refute Gul Hassan’s versions, Maj. Gen. Mitha takes the task to produce this book and drown the ‘one-up-man-ship’ of Gul Hassan.

Gul Hassan effort to wriggle out of his share – A major share at that – of the mistakes in ’65 & 71’ wars and the accusations made against him of inefficiency as CGS and DMO, disloyalty and utter immaturity is greatly defeated by Mitha’s rejoinder ‘Fallacies and Realities’.

b.      About Author

Maj. Gen. Aboobaker Osama Mitha usually shortened to AO Mitha, born in 1923, was a legendary two-star rank general who was the pioneer of the "stay behind" concept and founder of Pakistan's Special Service Group (SSG). Mitha served in World War II and commanded a platoon and a Motor Battalion later. He remained a company commander in Burma with 2/4 Bombay Grenadiers and 14/7 Rajputs. He was the only Muslim officer to serve with the paratroops of Indian Parachute Regiment in WWII. Mitha remained GSO 3 and GSO 2 to the Directorate of Weapons and Equipment in the Supreme Headquarters in Delhi and was in charge of the Division of the Airborne Equipment between India and Pakistan partition. He passed his staff college in 1951 and was posted as Quarter Master General in GHQ. He commanded Baluch Regimental Center and was commandant of Pakistan Military Academy for two years. He was Deputy to Gen. Tikka for the first four weeks of the East Pakistan operation. Mitha laid into eternal rest in 1999.

2.     AIM Of The Book

The purpose of this book is to produce a rejoinder to Gul Hassan’s plethora of stories and personal tales with no one to corroborate, refute or testify. Mitha attempts this booklet to counter Gul Hassan’s accusations and blunt and belligerent style of writing.

This book also provides an excellent account of the past events for all ages and ranks of officers misled to think  that not doing ones duty because one dislikes his seniors or colleagues is right under any circumstances. It also discusses the duties of senior officers and responsibility to maintain discipline of all kinds that Gul Hassan seems to spare himself off.

The booklet also serves as a reminder to Gul Hassan of his unfulfilled duties and inefficiency to do so and an excellent overview of historic events by the eyewitness himself.

3.        Main Body

Lt. Gen. Gull Hassan, being the then DMO, who was responsible for the defense plans and the issue of operation orders, has composed his Memoirs in which he has dealt with the planning for the 1965 war at some length. Maj. Gen. Mitha has produced a rejoinder to Gull Hassan’s book.

Since, Maj. Gen. Mitha has a better experience of war time soldiering and post war staff appointments, he has more credibility in his pockets to be trusted and testify the events in its true spirits narrated in Gul Hassan’s Memoir. Gull Hassan had the misfortune of spending nearly the entire period of war as ADC to his very senior Army Commanders, more like a tale of personal services. These postings kept him far from regimental and command encounters, which give a specific shape to an officer character. Gull Hassan as ADC was denied this opportunity, bringing about his unconventional conduct design when stood up to with talking about exceptionally key inquiries with his seniors. Gull Hassan never liked feedback and contrast of feeling.

Gull Hassan's criticism of his CGS Maj. Gen. Sher Bahadur, amid the 1965 war is a glaring case. Mitha had close contacts with Gen. Sher Bahadur, who was a proficient senior officer and a man of few words who could get a handle on the circumstance obviously. Mitha see him as exceptionally cool and quiet identity in all circumstances. Gull Hassan feedback of Sher Bahadur seems ridiculous. Mitha credits Gull Hassans feedback to his long experience as an ADC, where vicinity to great commanders gave him the sentiment vainglory. Mitha says, he stayed near to them yet not amid their planning meetings rather to personal services.

Mitha has rightly answered the Gul Hassan’s criticism of infantry officers being posted as Armour commander, while he himself happened to be a convertee like those he has criticized.

4.        Analysis/Lessons Learnt

This rejoinder provides a very good historical view of the events and functioning of the certain divisions and armed forces. I have learnt the following lessons.

• One should keep country and his duties above personal grudge and ego.
• One should put forward his opinion and plans without disrespecting seniors in case not accepted.
• If someone is senior to you he must have done something extraordinary to have that positions – though not necessarily.
• I have learnt a great deal of how GHQ functioned at that time and the advancement since then.
• I have grasped the knowledge about GHQ sub-divisions and how they function in both war and peace time.
• Anybody would have fallen for the plethora of stories by Gull Hassan, Mitha’s booklet provided me an opportunity to learn about the other side of the story.
• I have learnt about Gull Hassan inefficiencies and ‘could not care less attitude’ as DMO during 1965 war and as Chief of General Staff in 1971 war.
• I have also learnt how the brilliant achievement of armour were nullified at Khem Kharan because Gull Hassan failed as DMO to provide infantry cover to the armour and it had to abandon ground captured on two successive days.
• I have learnt a great deal of knowledge about Khem Karan and East Pakistan and Gull Hassan’s contributions.

  5.        Recommendations

Gull Hassan Memoir is a record of individual stories and accomplishments. Maj. Gen. Mitha reply to Gull Hassan's record is simply proficient treatise on the working of an Arm of the Defense Services whose systems for working is not generally known, not open. This booklet has lifted the drapery to some degree. Mitha's reply should be read.

  6.        Conclusion

The positions that Gull Hassan held in 1965 and 1971 were such that he can't escape from the obligation and liability he had on his shoulders. Gull Hassan did his best to stick it on others, with whom he neglected to make a working relationship.

Armed force anticipates that each man will do his duty regardless of individual likes and aversions. One ought not to compose such aggressive comments against his seniors and partners with nobody to affirm and no ethical ground to hold.

From Mitha’s booklet it seems Gull Hassan were just making sensational headlines to sell his plethora of stories by making false accusations and adopting a blunt and belligerent style of writing while presenting himself as a sacred cow. 

If Gull Hassan was so critical of his seniors and planning of 1965, he should have resigned in protest. Then he would have been in a better position to comment or criticize them now. He didn’t do so and that makes him part of that planning, so he cannot simply wriggle out of his share or responsibility in the action at that time.

Colonel Sher Khan Shaheed - An Exemplary Intrepid

BACKGROUND 
 
Sher Khan was the youngest of his two brothers and two sisters. His mother died in 1978 when he was

Captain Colonel Sher Khan Shaheed, Nishan-e-Haider

eight. He was brought up by his paternal aunts. His family is deeply religious and they say that Sher was an embodiment of piety and Islamic teaching.
After completing his intermediate from Government College Swabi he joined Pakistan Air Force as an air man. On completion of his training, he was appointed electric fitter (aeronautical) at Risalpur. During these years he appointed twice for commission in the Pakistan Army as this was what he really wanted to do — he succeeded the second time. He joined the Pakistan Military Academy, Kakul in November 1992 and graduated in the 90th Long Course in 1994. His first posting was at Okara in 27th Sindh Regiment. Always smiling as a devoted soldier, he was fondly called Shera and was very popular among his officers and colleagues. In January 1998 he volunteered to serve at the LoC in Kashmir, he was posted in 12 NLI.
 
PERFORMANCE
 
The Tiger Hill Complex is a set of six strategic posts; the Tiger Hill Top, Western Spur, Eastern Spur, India Gate, Rocky Knob and Helmet. If the Indian account is to be believed, Captain Karnal Sher Khan was responsible for setting up and defending one of these posts. On the other hand, the Pakistani account states that Sher was responsible for setting up forward defensive posts around the Gultari and Mushkoh Valley areas in Kargil, and that he had nothing to do with Tiger Hill. This article is based on the Indian account. In any case, the actual location does not matter as will be seen in the remainder of this article. From Indian readings, it appears that Sher was in fact defending the post on the Western Spur. The truth, however, will never be known. The active participation of the Kashmiri Freedom Fighters in the Tiger Hill battles is, however, a well researched fact.
Tiger Hill Top was the most strategic post at Kargil. This was the highest peak overlooking the Srinagar-Leh Highway. Although there were other active posts from where the Indian supply lines to Siachen glacier could be cut as well, Tiger Hill Top was the most effective. For the protection of Tiger Hill Top, the Pakistani soldiers and Kashmiri Freedom Fighters occupied the five other posts in the Tiger Hill complex. The most important was the Western Spur post, which had to be neutralized in order to launch any sort of infantry offensive on the Tiger Hill Top post.
The task of isolating the Western Spur post was given to the Indian 8 Sikh Regiment (800 - 1000 men). Later on, this regiment also participated in the capture of Tiger Hill Top. The task of bombarding this post was given to the Indian 41 Field regiment (a full field unit with massive heavy artillery capability).
Manning the Western Spur post was Captain Karnal Sher Khan with 21 ORs (Other Ranks, men who are ordinary sepoys and do not hold any specific rank).
From 26th June to 27th June, the 41 Field Regiment excessively shelled the Western Spur post with no less than 19 Howitzers, while the Indian Air Force Mirage 2000 jets flew sorties over the post and pounded the bunkers with laser guided bombs. Under these circumstances some infantrymen from 8 Sikh also fired at the posts held by Sher and his men, and 'dared them to recite the Kalima, for it will be their final one'. Obviously, the Pakistanis and the Kashmir's did not get any sleep during this time.
It was around 9:00 PM on the 27th of June 1999 that the 8 Sikh launched a fierce attack on the Western Spur post. The tired 'intruders' tried to fight back, but the sheer number of the Indians (450 - 500 men) along with the IAF and Artillery support made it impossible for them to hold on. There were not many casualties on either side, but as far as Karnal Sher's men were concerned, there didn't have to be many, as they were not great in number to start with.
Karnal Sher finally retreated from the post, going to a point of lower elevation. The Indians had gotten hold of the Western Spur post. They were in a terrific position to launch the final offensive on the other posts, especially the Tiger Hill Top.

Right in photo capt Sher khan! Hero OF kargil

Karnal Sher was in a terrible spot. The Indians were now at an elevated position; they were much greater in number and had the support of a much bigger artillery. Unlike Sher's men they were well rested, as the enemy did not subject them to intense fire and they also had no shortage of ammunition or food.
One of Sher's men had died during the attack. Most of the others were wounded. To top it all, some Sikh soldiers were still daring them to come out and recite their final Kalima.
One of Karnal Sher's men asked him about what they were supposed to do next.
"Counter Attack", replied Sher
The stunned man gazed at Sher. Counter Attack under the circumstances was suicidal. The Indians had an advantage in every thinkable manner. They had also been fortifying their defense ever since they had taken the Western Spur.
"Counter Attack?", the man asked Sher again.
"Yes counter attack. The Indians attacked my post at night, with heavy artillery and air support. I will attack them in broad daylight with the men that I have left."
Sher had been operational in the area since November 1998. He knew the Drass Sector area inside out. He had a good idea of the positions that could be taken for an attack on the Western Spur. The 8 Sikh Regiment had not utilized any of those areas in their attack, hence Sher took the chance they were not well aware of their existence. During the night he placed his men in those positions, strategically placing the compact artillery that they had in the optimum areas.
The counter attack, with 21 men, was launched on the Indians occupying the Western Spur. Sher's men were told never to stay in on position while attacking, and the positions that every man was to move to and from during the attack were also identified. Every one of Sher's men was changing position to no less than 8 places.
This was the shortest battle of the entire Kargil operation, taking no more than one hour. There were many reasons for its success. First of all was the deployment. As an Indian soldier would be killed, the others would direct fire towards the area from where the fire came from. In the mean time however, the Pakistani/ Kashmiri would have changed his position to another area where he was safe from the Indian firing but still could see them.
Secondly, the Indians were not expecting an attack from the positions where Karnal Sher had deployed his men. Had they known about them in advance, they would have placed their own men over there as a defensive measure.
The third was the timing of the attack. It came at the most unexpected time, only 7 or 8 hours after the Indian offensive.
Finally, there was the sheer ferocity of the attack. Sher's men knew before going into the attack that they are going in for an impossible task. They had no fear of death, and that itself makes a better fighter during any battle.
As the 8 Sikh regiment began to retreat, Kernal Sher left his position and came out in the open. He started reciting the Kalima aloud. Picking up his machine gun he started charging towards the retreating forces.
"Cowards!" he said, "Where are you running off to? I will not let you run away like this."
Sher's remaining men, having suffered some casualties while they were ascending the Western Spur post, finally managed to reach on top. They replaced the Indian Flag with the Pakistani one and started chanting slogans of 'Allah O Akbar'. Sher, on the other hand, was obsessed with the retreating forces.
"I am reciting the Kalima as you had dared me to." he shouted, "Where are you running off to? Stop and fight. Make this my last Kalima if you can". While saying this he was seen running after the retreating troops, firing at will, with little or no opposition except from the ongoing artillery shelling. 10 or 12 of Sher's men, who had taken up positions on the Western Spur, also opened havoc wreaking fire on the retreating troops to add to their woes.
Captain Karnal Sher followed the Indian troops until he reached the proximity of the 8 Sikh Regiment base camp.
Most of the men who had retreated from the Western Spur had come back to the base camp. The base camp already had around 300 to 400 soldiers. When the commanding officer was given the news of the counter attack at the Western Spur post, he radioed back to the Indian intelligence and cursed them for letting him believe that there were only 20 odd men in the area. He told them that at least a company strength (150 men) of militants had just attacked and retaken the Western Spur post.
One of the soldiers told the Commanding officer that the enemy commander was following them down. The CO told the man not to worry as one man would not dare enter the base camp. However, he was anticipating that a much larger party of militants would attack the base camp. He ordered his men to take the necessary defensive positions.
While the 8 Sikh soldiers were taking their defensive positions, they were greeted with the sound of 'Allah O Akbar' followed by intense machine gun fire on those areas where any movement was taking place.
Anticipating a company sized attack, the CO was stunned to see one man, reciting the Kalima aloud, charging towards the center of the camp.
"Come out cowards!" Captain Sher shouted having reached the center, "I will show you how to fight a battle".
Angered by the dare inside their own camp, two Sikh soldiers tried to attack Sher. Their attack was of no avail; the captain, who had started firing in their direction the moment they tried to move, killed both.
It was apparent that this was not an attack by a complete company, but by only one man. "You are surrounded from all sides " the CO shouted to Sher, "There are no men with you. You cannot possibly kill us all. There does not have to be any unnecessary bloodshed. Lay down your weapon and Surrender".
Sher fired in the direction of the Commanding Officer's voice. "I would rather die than to surrender to you" he said. While trying to continue firing, Sher realized that the ammunition in his machine gun had finished.
Seeing that he no longer had any ammunition, the Indian soldiers, including their CO, came out in the open and showed Sher that he was indeed surrounded from all sides. They started moving closer and closer to him, tightening their circle around him.
"Look around yourself" he said to Sher, "There is nothing more that you can do".
Sher looked around. There were more than fifty men who had surrounded him and could shoot him at point blank range. Instead of giving up, he started reciting the Kalima aloud once again. Seeing that the closest to him was the CO, he charged him and pushed him back by hitting him on the head with his empty machine gun. Seeing that Sher was not surrendering, and was in fact going to attack him for the second time, the 8 Sikh regiment Commanding Officer told his men to open fire on the militant.
The 8 Sikh regiment soldiers opened fire on Captain Sher. Hit many times, he tried to attack the CO for the third time, but of no avail.
Sher had always believed in not dying at the enemy's feet. He was about five feet away from the CO, who could see the desperate attempt Sher was making in not to fall down. Finally, Sher sat down, with his knees bent and touching the ground, and his machine gun still in his hand. The Kalima that he had been reciting so far became lower and lower in volume until it finally stopped. Captain Karnal Sher Khan had died.
Some of the Sikh soldiers became ecstatic that they had indeed made the 'intruder' recite his final Kalima. Two of them ran to Sher Khan's body to kick it from a sitting position into a one where his head was touching the ground.
Seeing the intent of his men, the CO ordered them to stop. He told them that this was a brave man and his body should not be desecrated at any cost. He ordered that Sher's body be brought back to Srinagar rather than being left at Tiger Hill. Upon finding out that Sher was a Pakistani Captain, he made sure that Sher gets a proper military treatment from the Indians. It was he who wrote the citation of Captain Sher, recommending him for the highest gallantry award in Pakistan. The citation can be found at Captain Sher Khan's residence in Fajounabad Charbagh, Swabi.
The government of Pakistan awarded Captain Karnal Sher Khan with Nishan-e-Haider, the country's highest gallantry award.

The Writer Tweets at @ISIStinger