Saif Ali Janjua

Naik Saif Ali Janjua Pakistan Army Azad Kashmir Regiment (Haider Dil Battalion) was a platoon commander during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1947. He received the Hilal-e-Kashmir from the government of Azad Kashmir, which is equal to Nishan-e-Haider, the highest military award given by Pakistan. He fought in the Kashmir sector during the 1948 War and sacrificed his life after displaying extraordinary bravery and heroism during the siege of Budha Khanna. Naik Saif Ali Khan was born to Janjua Rajput family on 25 April 1922 in Khandbaz(Khandhar) Tehsil Fateh pur thakyala (Azad Jammu and Kashmir).

He was enlisted in the Royal Corps of Engineers in British Indian Army on 18 March 1941. After completing his service in the British Indian Army in 1947, he came back to his native town and started establishing Haidri Force with the support of Sardar Fateh Muhammad Karailvi. On 1 January 1948, Haidri Force was raised as “” under the command of Lt. Col. Muhammad Sher Khan. Due to his unflinching devotion and undaunted courage, on the recognition of his dedication and commitment to the cause, he was accoladed with the rank of Naik and was made platoon commander. He set personal examples of gallantry and inflicted heavy losses on the enemy at Bhudha Khanna, where his platoon was given the responsibility to defend Budha Khanna, where he faced never-ending frontal and crossfire from machine guns. He defended the post with chivalry, which he established with his few jawans and repulsed many aggressive ventures by the enemy and imposed colossal losses on them. The enemy used every mean to capture the post with two companies attack and heavy shelling but still managed to hold onto that post with just a handful of men. During the course of action, despite being hit on his chest by artillery fire, he retained his position and frustrated the Indian assault. He succumbed to his injuries on 26 October 1948. On 14 March 1949, the Defence Council of Azad Jammu & Kashmir adorned him with Hilal-e-Kashmir (posthumous) and on 30 November 1995 Government of Pakistan initiated the gazette notification to declare his Hilal-e-Kashmir equivalent to Nishan-e-Haider and it was declared as Nishan-e-Haider.