ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and President Asif Ali Zardari paid tribute on Sunday to Kargil War hero Captain Karnal Sher Khan Shaheed, Nishan-e-Haider, on the 27th anniversary of his martyrdom, according to the Associated Press of Pakistan.

In a statement, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif described Captain Karnal Sher Khan's "great sacrifice and unparalleled bravery" in the face of adversity as "a shining chapter in the military history of Pakistan and a testament to the highest traditions of loyalty to the motherland and bravery."

"Defense of the beloved homeland is a sacred duty, and the great sacrifices made by the sons of the pure land are the guarantors of our peace and sovereignty today," the prime minister said.

According to APP, he also reiterated the government's resolve to stand "shoulder to shoulder" with Pakistan's armed forces against both external and internal threats.

"This great sacrifice of Captain Karnal Sher Khan Shaheed reminds us that our freedom and sovereignty are due to the sacred blood of our martyrs," he added.

President calls martyr national asset

President Asif Ali Zardari also honored the Nishan-e-Haider recipient, saying his "extraordinary sacrifice... will live forever."

"The martyrs of Pakistan are our national asset; their sacrifices will always be remembered with appreciation and respect," the president said.

"The nation is indebted to the sacrifices of its martyrs; it is these sacrifices that have made Pakistan's defense impregnable," he added.

Captain Karnal Sher Khan, an officer of the Pakistan Army's 27th Sind Regiment serving with the 12th Northern Light Infantry, was martyred during the 1999 Kargil conflict and was posthumously awarded the Nishan-e-Haider, Pakistan's highest military gallantry award, for his bravery, Radio Pakistan reported.

kargil

Pakistan PM, president pay tribute to Kargil war hero on 27th martyrdom anniversary