Lalak Jan

Template:Short description Template:Use Pakistani English Template:Use dmy dates Template:Infobox military person Havaldar Lalak Jan NH (Template:Langx) (1 April 1967 – 7 July 1999) was a Pakistani non-commissioned officer and posthumous recipient of Pakistan's highest military award, Nishan-e-Haider (Mark of the Lion). Belonging to the Northern Light Infantry regiment of the Pakistan Army, he was the 11th and most recent recipient of the Nishan-e-Haider and was awarded for his bravery and gallant actions during the Kargil War of 1999, where he was killed in action.<ref name=Dawn/>

Early life

Lalak Jan was born on 1 April 1967<ref name=PakistanArmy/> in Yasin, in the Gupis-Yasin District of Gilgit-Baltistan.<ref name="samaa">Template:Cite web</ref> After completing his education, he joined the Pakistan Army on 10 December 1984 and eventually rose to the rank of Havaldar.<ref name=Dawn/><ref name="samaa"/>

Battle and death

Lalak Jan enlisted in the Pakistan Army on 10 December 1984. Lalak Jan was serving in the Northern Light Infantry (NLI) when the Kargil War began in May 1999.<ref name="samaa"/><ref name=PakistanArmy/> He volunteered for deployment on the front lines in May 1999.<ref name="samaa"/> 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=PakistanArmy>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=Dawn>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name=DunyaNews/>

Burial

File:Lalak Jan Memorial.jpg

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.<ref name=DunyaNews>Template:Cite web</ref>

Awards and decorations

The Government of Pakistan awarded him the Nishan-e-Haider (Mark of the Lion), the country's highest honour for extraordinary gallantry in 1999.<ref name=Dawn/><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>