Saif Ali Janjua


Saif Ali Janjua

Born(1922-04-23)23 April 1922
Nakyal, Kotli, Kashmir & Jammu, British India
Died26 October 1948(1948-10-26) (aged 26)
Mendhar, Jammu and Kashmir
Allegiance
Branch
Years of service1941–1948
Rank Naik
UnitBritish Indian Royal Corps of Engineers (1941-47)
5 AK Regt (1947-1948)
18 AK Regt (1948)
Battles / wars
Awards Hilal-e-Kashmir
Nishan-e-Haider
Spouse(s)Zohra Bibi
ChildrenMuhammad Siddique
Muhammad Raffique
Tasweer Begum

Naik Saif Ali Janjua (Urdu: سیف علی جنجوعہ; 23 April 1922 — 26 October 1948) was a Pakistani military officer and posthumous war hero. A non-commissioned officer in the Azad Kashmir Regiment, he is best known for being the second recipient of Pakistan's highest military award, the Nishan-e-Haider, which he was awarded posthumously for his actions of valor and gallantry during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1947-1948. He was also the only recipient of the Hilal-e-Kashmir award which was later declared as the equivalent of the Nishan-e-Haider.

He fought in the British Indian Army during the Second World War, and following the partition of India in 1947, he opted for Pakistan and joined the Pakistan Army. During the Indo-Pakistani War of 1947, he served as a platoon commander and was killed in action in the siege of Bhudha Khanna in October 1948.