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{{Short description|Pakistani Nishan-e-Haider recipient (1967–1999)}}
<!-- Unsourced image removed: ] -->
{{Infobox military person
]
| honorific_prefix = ]
| honorific_suffix = ]
| name = Lalak Jan
| native_name = {{lang|ur|{{nq|حولدار لالک جان}}}}
| image = File:Hundur Yasin 02.jpg
| image_size = 300px
| alt =
| caption = Tomb of Lalak Jan, Yasin Valley, Gilgit-Baltistan
| birth_date = {{birth-date|1 April 1967}}
| death_date = {{death date and age|1999|07|07|1967|04|01|df=y}}
| birth_place = ], ], <br /> ]
| death_place =
| placeofburial = Hundur, Yasin Valley, Gilgit-Baltistan
| placeofburial_label =
| placeofburial_coordinates = <!-- {{Coord|LAT|LONG|display=inline,title}} -->
| nickname =
| birth_name =
| allegiance = {{PAK}}
| branch = {{Army|PAK}}
| serviceyears = 1984–1999
| rank = ] ]
| servicenumber = <!--Do not use data from primary sources such as service records.-->
| unit = ]
| commands =
| battles = ]{{KIA}}
| battles_label =
| awards = ] ]
| spouse = <!-- Add spouse if reliably sourced -->
| relations =
| laterwork =
| signature =
| website = <!-- {{URL|example.com}} -->
| memorials =
| module =
}}
] '''Lalak Jan''' ({{langx|ur|{{nq|حولدار لالک جان}}}}) (1 April 1967 – 7 July 1999) was a Pakistani ] and posthumous recipient of Pakistan's highest military award, ]. Belonging to the ] regiment of the ], he was the 10th and most recent recipient of the Nishan-e-Haider and was awarded for his bravery and gallant actions during the ], where he was killed in action.


== Early life ==
'''Lalak Jan''' (] &ndash; ], ], ]: لالک جان) was born in ], ] District, in the ], ]. After school he joined the ], and reached the rank of ].
Lalak Jan was born on 1 April 1967 in ], in the ] of ].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.samaa.tv/news/2011/07/hav-lalak-nishan-e-haider-being-remembered/|title=Hav. Lalak (Nishan-e-Haider) being remembered|date=7 July 2011|work=Samaa Tv}}</ref><ref name="samaa">{{cite web|url=https://www.samaa.tv/news/2017/07/kargil-war-hero-lalak-jan-being-remembered/|work=Samaa Tv|date=7 July 2017|title=Kargil war hero Lalak Jan being remembered}}</ref> After completing his education, he joined the ] on 10 December 1984 and eventually rose to the rank of ].<ref name="samaa"/>


== Death ==
As a junior officer in the ], Jan fought against ] in the ] of ]. He volunteered to be deployed on the front lines and drove back a number of attacks by the ].Tiger Hill in the Kargil Sector had been occupied by 11 men of 12 NLI (Northern Light Infantry) unit of the Pakistan Army. One of these men was Subedar Sikander, the person who was responsible, with 10 other men, to hold back India's offensive long enough to force the Division at Siachen to retreat. His 2IC (Second in Command) was Havaldar Major Lalak Jan.The 10 men of 12 NLI were told by Subedar Sikander to change their positions while firing back at the attacking Indian forces. As the men followed the orders, they managed to bluff the Indians into believing that the size of the force was much more than 11.
Lalak Jan was serving in the ] (NLI) when the ] began. He volunteered for deployment on the front lines in May 1999. Later that year, his post came under numerous attacks from the Indian Army, which he successfully repelled. He was killed on 7 July 1999 after succumbing to serious injuries from heavy shelling on his position by Indian forces.<ref name="pa">{{cite web|url=https://www.pakistanarmy.gov.pk/AWPReview/TextContent.aspx?pId=181|title=Havildar Lalak Jan|website=www.pakistanarmy.gov.pk|access-date=14 March 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dawn.com/news/1204668|title=They rest in honoured glory|first=Ambreen|last=Arshad|date=5 September 2015|publisher=|access-date=14 March 2018}}</ref>


According to the official statement:
On 1st of July, 1999, the 18 Grenadiers Battalion (India) launched a fierce attack on Tiger Hill by virtue of artillery shelling of the occupied bunkers. Subedar Sikandar placed his men in such positions that they managed to repulse the attack without any loss of life on their own part. It is not known how many men were lost by the 18 Grenadiers Battalion.


<blockquote>He was serving in Northern Light Infantry Regiment when skirmishes broke out in Kargil in 1999. Havildar Lalak Jan of the Northern Light Infantry Regiment fought from the forefront to thwart heavy Indian attacks. He volunteered himself to be deployed on the front positions located at the jagged peak in May 1999. Havildar Lalak Jan repulsed back many aggressive ventures by the enemy and imposed colossal losses on them. On 7 July 1999, Havildar Lalak Jan sustained serious injuries as enemies pounded the area with heavy mortar shells. But despite being injured, he retained his position and frustrated the Indian assault. Due to severe injuries, he embraced martyrdom and was graciously awarded the ] for his bravery and his will to attack and defeat the enemy at all costs.<ref name="pa"/></blockquote>
On the morning of 2nd July 1999, amidst the mist, the 18 Grenadiers launched another attack on Tiger Hills. Subedar Sikandar ordered his men to retreat to a secret bunker. Once the men were safe, he ordered Lalak Jan to descend Tiger Hill, and amidst the Indian Artillery shelling plant the ]s in the area in front of the Indians. The impossibility of the task was realized by all, but the Subedar insisted that the army has sent them down to fight, and that they would have to complete this task if they were to make a dent in the Indian offensive. Planting the landmines was the only way for them to damage the Indian armor and artillery, as none of the 11 men of 12 NLI had any heavy weaponry. The Subedar insisted that the mist would help Lalak Jan as well, and the Indians would not be expecting it either.


==Burial==
Accepting the daunting task, Lalak Jan descended Tiger Hills amidst the mist. The remaining men gave him as fierce a cover as possible to distract the Indians. Lalak Jan used his natural mountaineering ability to the fullest in the snow clad area and planted the landmines in such a manner that the Indians would encounter them in case they tried to move forward towards the hill.
]
Lalak Jan was buried in his hometown, Hundur, in the ], ], ]. Each year, officials from the ], ], and local residents visit his tomb to offer prayers and lay wreaths.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://dunyanews.tv/en/Pakistan/499225-Martyrdom-anniversary-of-Nishan-i-Haider-Haveldar-Lalak-Jan-being-observ|title=Martyrdom anniversary of Nishan-i-Haider Haveldar Lalak Jan being observed today|date=7 July 2019|work=Dunya News}}</ref>


==Awards and decorations==
Lalak Jan returned, having successfully planted the mines as ordered.
The ] awarded him the ], the country's highest honour for extraordinary gallantry.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://tribune.com.pk/story/949509/nishan-e-haider-the-mark-of-the-lion/|title=Nishan-e-Haider: The mark of the lion - The Express Tribune|date=6 September 2015|publisher=|access-date=14 March 2018}}</ref> {{Infobox award
| name = ]
| image = Nishan-i-Haider-PAK.jpg
| imagesize = 100px
| caption = Lalak Jan was the recipient of the Nishan-e-Haider award
| country = ]
| date = 1999
| presenter = ]
}}


==References==
The trap was now set. All that the men required to do now was to lure the Indians into it. Subedar Sikandar told his men to gradually reduce the firing to a standstill.
{{Reflist}}

About two hours after firing ceased from the Pakistan side, the Indians thought that they had managed to clear the area of the insurgents. Hence they began to move forward. The landmines wrought havoc with their initial forward movements. The Indians suffered heavy casualties, however, as they have not publicized this incident, the exact amount of damage is not known. The damage was in any case, severe enough that 18 Grenadiers did not attack Tiger Hills for at least 3 to 4 more days, until they were supported by another Indian Unit, eight Sikh.

On 6th July, both 18 Grenadiers and eight Sikh attacked Tiger Hills in the fiercest of Tiger Hill battles or the Kargil Operation. Some of the Indian soldiers launched an attack from the steeper side of the hill. The NLI was not expecting an attack from this side. The NLI fought this battle at a heavy cost. Seven of the 11 men were killed, including Subedar Sikander. The Indians had managed to destroy a number of the Tiger Hill bunkers by either a hand to hand fight or by dropping a ] into it.

Only Lalak Jan and three other men remained. The onslaught of the Indians was continuing and they were rapidly advancing towards capturing the hill. Lalak Jan, who was now the senior most person around, placed his men in strategic positions, at least two to three per person, and told them to fire without staying in one position. These four men, pitted against an enemy much superior in number and weaponry, managed to repulse the Indian onslaught by sheer courage and determination.

On 7th July 1999, 18 Grenadiers and eight Sikh launched yet another offensive. This was a successful attack. Two of Lalak Jan's men were killed. Lalak Jan and his only other remaining comrade in arms, Bakhmal Jan were both seriously injured. Not giving up, Lalak Jan got hold of an LMG and while Bakhmal Jan provided him with the ammunition, the two men kept trying to repulse the Indian attack. Lalak Jan's left arm had been rendered useless as he had received a bullet in it. Bakhmal Jan, unable to sustain his injuries, died while supplying the ammunition to Lalak Jan.

From there on, in one of the most stunning demonstrations of determination, Lalak Jan held up the two units of the Indian Army for four complete hours. The Indian offensive finally slowed down and they descended Tiger Hills. The reason for this is not known, perhaps they thought that they could shell the bunker in which Lalak Jan was positioned.

After the Indian offensive had subsided, reinforcements (5 to 6 men) were sent to Tiger Hill under Captain Amer. When he saw the condition of Lalak Jan he told him to go back to the base camp as his arm was in no condition to be used. Lalak Jan told the captain that he did not want to die on a hospital bed, but would rather die in the battlefield. He told his Captain that he should not worry about the arm.

While this was going on at the hill, the Indians started shelling from a secret bunker in an adjacent hill. By that time the command of the handful of troops at Tiger Hill had been taken up by Captain Amer. He realized that the fire was coming from a secret bunker and also directed fire towards it, but the effort was in vain. The exact reason for the failure of this fire by the Pakistanis is not known. It could have been because of one of three reasons 1) The secret bunker was very well designed and protected by the Indians 2) the fire was not directed properly or 3) the bunker was not in the range of the light weaponry possessed by the Pakistanis atop Tiger Hill.

There was only one way left to counter the secret Indian bunker; it had to be blown up from a closer range.

When the injured Lalak Jan volunteered for the mission, his plea was immediately rejected by the captain, who was of the opinion that he would do it himself. However, Lalak Jan persuaded him, giving him his previous landmine installation experience coupled with his mountaineering skills as the explanation.

The Captain agreed.

Lalak Jan put a bag of explosives on his back, and while shouldering an AK-47 descended Tiger Hills for the second time amidst heavy Indian shelling. Managing to avoid being seen by the Indian forces, and utilising his knowledge of the hills to take cover, he located the secret bunker and threw the explosives inside the bunker.

The bunker, which was also an ammunition dump, blew up in what was probably the biggest blast of the entire Kargil Operation. Lalak Jan managed to take cover, but the Indian Army lost 19 to 20 men inside and nearby the bunker. The other Indian soldiers saw Lalak Jan and opened fire on him. Surrounded from all sides by Indian fire, Lalak Jan tried to resist and returned fire.

He sustained serious injuries as a result of heavy ] ], but managed to defend his position and frustrate the ]n attack before dying at his post.

On 15th of September 1999, the commanding officer of 12 NLI sent two commando forces to Tiger Hills to recover the body of Lalak Jan. The two forces were called 'Ababeel' and 'Uqaab'. Ababeel provided the fire cover while Uqaab went into the destroyed enemy bunker to retrieve the body of Lalak Jan. When his body was found, Lalak Jan had his AK-47 clinched to his chest.

The Indian Military was so impressed by his courage and valour that they personally conveyed a message to the ] to award Jan a ] for his actions. Pakistan awarded him the ], Pakistan’s highest military award, for extraordinary gallantry. Since ]'s creation, only ten soldiers in all have received this honour. Jan was the first person from the Northern Areas of Pakistan to receive the award.

==External links==
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{{Nishan-e-Haider}} {{Nishan-e-Haider}}
{{Military of Pakistan}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Jan, Lalak}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Jan, Lalak}}
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Latest revision as of 15:18, 27 November 2024

Pakistani Nishan-e-Haider recipient (1967–1999)
Havildar
Lalak Jan
NH
Tomb of Lalak Jan, Yasin Valley, Gilgit-Baltistan
Native nameحولدار لالک جان
Born1 April 1967 (1967-04)
Yasin Valley, Gilgit–Baltistan,
West Pakistan
Died7 July 1999(1999-07-07) (aged 32)
BuriedHundur, Yasin Valley, Gilgit-Baltistan
Allegiance Pakistan
Service / branch Pakistan Army
Years of service1984–1999
Rank Havildar
Unit12 Northern Light Infantry
Battles / warsKargil War †
Awards Nishan-e-Haider

Havaldar Lalak Jan (Urdu: حولدار لالک جان) (1 April 1967 – 7 July 1999) was a Pakistani military officer and posthumous recipient of Pakistan's highest military award, Nishan-e-Haider. Belonging to the Northern Light Infantry regiment of the Pakistan Army, he was the 10th and most recent recipient of the Nishan-e-Haider and was awarded for his bravery and gallant actions during the Kargil War, where he was killed in action.

Early life

Lalak Jan was born on 1 April 1967 in Yasin, in the Gupis-Yasin District of Gilgit-Baltistan. After completing his education, he joined the Pakistan Army on 10 December 1984 and eventually rose to the rank of Havaldar.

Death

Lalak Jan was serving in the Northern Light Infantry (NLI) when the Kargil War began. He volunteered for deployment on the front lines in May 1999. Later that year, his post came under numerous attacks from the Indian Army, which he successfully repelled. He was killed on 7 July 1999 after succumbing to serious injuries from heavy shelling on his position by Indian forces.

According to the official statement:

He was serving in Northern Light Infantry Regiment when skirmishes broke out in Kargil in 1999. Havildar Lalak Jan of the Northern Light Infantry Regiment fought from the forefront to thwart heavy Indian attacks. He volunteered himself to be deployed on the front positions located at the jagged peak in May 1999. Havildar Lalak Jan repulsed back many aggressive ventures by the enemy and imposed colossal losses on them. On 7 July 1999, Havildar Lalak Jan sustained serious injuries as enemies pounded the area with heavy mortar shells. But despite being injured, he retained his position and frustrated the Indian assault. Due to severe injuries, he embraced martyrdom and was graciously awarded the Nishan-e-Haider for his bravery and his will to attack and defeat the enemy at all costs.

Burial

The place where Lalak Jan was buried.

Lalak Jan was buried in his hometown, Hundur, in the Yasin Valley, Gupis-Yasin District, Gilgit-Baltistan. Each year, officials from the Government of Pakistan, Pakistan Armed Forces, and local residents visit his tomb to offer prayers and lay wreaths.

Awards and decorations

The Government of Pakistan awarded him the Nishan-e-Haider, the country's highest honour for extraordinary gallantry.

Nishan-e-Haider Award Recipient
Lalak Jan was the recipient of the Nishan-e-Haider award
Date1999
CountryIslamic Republic of Pakistan
Presented byMuhammad Rafiq Tarar

References

  1. "Hav. Lalak (Nishan-e-Haider) being remembered". Samaa Tv. 7 July 2011.
  2. ^ "Kargil war hero Lalak Jan being remembered". Samaa Tv. 7 July 2017.
  3. ^ "Havildar Lalak Jan". www.pakistanarmy.gov.pk. Retrieved 14 March 2018.
  4. Arshad, Ambreen (5 September 2015). "They rest in honoured glory". Retrieved 14 March 2018.
  5. "Martyrdom anniversary of Nishan-i-Haider Haveldar Lalak Jan being observed today". Dunya News. 7 July 2019.
  6. "Nishan-e-Haider: The mark of the lion - The Express Tribune". 6 September 2015. Retrieved 14 March 2018.
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