Pakistan honours 'Kargil hero' whose body it refused to accept

NEW DELHI: Pakistan army chief Asim Munir and other senior officers on Saturday paid "heartfelt tribute" to Captain Karnal Sher Khan Shaheed on the occasion of his 26th "martyrdom" anniversary for what Islamabad describes as his unwavering courage and patriotism during the 1999 Kargil war. However, it's learnt that Pakistan had refused to accept his body that was found on Tiger Hill in the Dras sub-sector.

According to a press release issued by the Indian embassy in Washington on July 15, 1999, Pakistan authorities adamantly refused to acknowledge the involvement of Pakistan army regulars in the misadventure in Kargil and as a part of that process did not initially acknowledge Khan's identification by India through correspondence found on him.

"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. Hence, their persistent and callous refusal to do so, they are doing great disservice to the families of their soldiers and to the traditions of armed forces everywhere," the embassy had said in its statement.

India had approached Pakistan on July 12, saying it would like to hand over the body to the Pakistan army. Subsequently, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) approached India on July 13, stating that the Pakistan govt had requested them to contact India for handing over the bodies of the two officers about which they had heard.

"The Pakistani request did not specify the names and identities of the two officers, despite the information being available to them. The reason is obvious. The Pakistan authorities realised that if they conceded the identities of these two officers, it would demolish the myth that the Pakistan army was not involved in Kargil," said the embassy.