No edit summary |
m slightly added article based on references and updated info per standard format |
||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
{{ | {{Use dmy dates|date=February 2020}} | ||
{{ | {{short description|Platoon Commander in the 1947 Indo-Pakistani War}} | ||
{{Use Pakistani English|date=February | {{Use Pakistani English|date=February 2020}} | ||
{{Infobox military person | {{Infobox military person | ||
| honorific_prefix | | honorific_prefix = [[Naik (military rank)|Naik]] | ||
[[ | | honorific_suffix = [[Nishan-e-Haider]] | ||
| honorific_suffix | | name = Saif Ali Janjua | ||
| name | | native_name = | ||
| native_name | | native_name_lang = ur | ||
| native_name_lang | | image = Saif Ali Janjua.jpg | ||
| image | | birth_date = {{birth date|1922|04|23|df=yes}} | ||
| | | birth_place = [[Fatehpur Thakiala Tehsil|Nakyal]], [[Kotli District|Kotli]], [[Kashmir and Jammu (princely state)|Kashmir & Jammu]], [[British Raj|British India]] | ||
| death_date = {{death date and age|1948|10|26|1922|04|23|df=y}} | |||
| death_place = [[Mendhar Tehsil|Mendhar]], [[Jammu and Kashmir (union territory)|Jammu and Kashmir]] | |||
| placeofburial = | |||
| allegiance = *{{flag|British India}}<br>{{small|(1941-47)}} | |||
| birth_place | *{{PAK}}<br>{{small|(1947-48)}} | ||
| death_place | | branch = *{{army|British India}}<br>{{small|(1941-47)}} | ||
| placeofburial = | *{{army|PAK}}<br>{{small|(1947-48)}} | ||
| | | unit = [[Royal Engineers|British Indian Royal Corps of Engineers]] {{small|(1941-47)}}<br>[[Azad Kashmir|18 AK Regt]] {{small|(1948)}} | ||
| | | serviceyears = 1941–1948 | ||
| | | rank = [[File:02.Pakistan Army-CPL.svg|20px]] [[Naik (military rank)|Naik]] | ||
| | | battles = | ||
| | {{tree list}} | ||
* [[Second World War]] | |||
| | * [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1947]]{{KIA}} | ||
| | {{tree list/end}} | ||
| | | awards = [[File:Hilal-e-Kashmir.gif|40px]] [[Hilal-e-Kashmir]]<br>[[File:Nishan-e-Haider.png|40px]] [[Nishan-e-Haider]] | ||
| | | spouse = Zohra Bibi | ||
| | | children = Muhammad Siddique<br>Muhammad Raffique<br>Tasweer Begum | ||
| awards | |||
| | |||
| | |||
}} | }} | ||
[[Naik (military rank)|Naik]] '''Saif Ali Janjua''' ( | [[Naik (military rank)|Naik]] '''Saif Ali Janjua''' ({{Langx|ur|{{Nastaliq|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.<ref name=PakistanArmy/> | ||
He fought in the [[British Indian Army]] during the [[World War II|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 leader|platoon commander]] and was [[killed in action]] in the siege of Bhudha Khanna in October 1948.<ref name=PakistanArmy/><ref name=":0">{{Cite web|last=Imran|date=2019-11-06|title=Naik Saif Ali Janjua|url=https://www.meemainseen.com/2019/11/saif-ali/|access-date=2020-09-22|website=MANI JUNCTION|language=en-US}}</ref> | |||
He | |||
== Military career == | ==Early life== | ||
Saif Ali Janjua was born into a family of the [[Punjabi people|Punjabi]] [[Janjua|Janjua Rajputs]] to Malik Muhammad Masoom Khan on 23 April 1922 in [[Fatehpur Thakiala Tehsil|Nakyal]], [[Kashmir and Jammu (princely state)|Kashmir & Jammu]], [[British India]].<ref name=Tribune>{{cite news|url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/2326349/army-pays-tribute-to-naik-saif-ali-janjua-on-martyrdom-anniversary|title=Army pays tribute to Naik Saif Ali on martyrdom anniversary|date=26 October 2021|newspaper=The Express Tribune newspaper|access-date=11 November 2025|url-status=dead|archive-date=26 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211026060943/https://tribune.com.pk/story/2326349/army-pays-tribute-to-naik-saif-ali-janjua-on-martyrdom-anniversary}}</ref><ref name=PakistanArmy/> | |||
==Personal life== | |||
Janjua was married to Zohra Bibi and had three children, Muhammad Siddique, Muhammad Raffique, and Tasweer Begum.<ref name=Tribune2>{{cite news|title=A true son of the soil remembered|url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/2269896/a-true-son-of-the-soil-remembered|newspaper=The Express Tribune newspaper|date=26 October 2020|language=en|quote=He left behind his wife, Zohra Bibi, and three children, Muhammad Siddique, Muhammad Raffique and Tasweer Begum. He had joined the Royal Corps of the British Indian Army as a sepoy on March 18, 1941. He served overseas for four years during World War II. When the war ended, his unit sailed back to the subcontinent, and remained stationed at Jalandhar and Lahore.|url-status=dead|archive-date=31 October 2020|access-date=11 November 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201031120021/https://tribune.com.pk/story/2269896/a-true-son-of-the-soil-remembered}}</ref> | |||
==Military career== | |||
===British Indian Army=== | |||
Saif Ali Janjua was enlisted into the [[Indian Army Corps of Engineers|Corps of Engineers]] in the [[British Indian Army]] as a [[Sepoy]] on 18 March 1941.<ref name=PakistanArmy/> He served for four years during [[World War II]] and when the war ended, his unit sailed back to the [[Indian subcontinent]] and was stationed at [[Jalandhar]] and [[Lahore]].<ref name=Tribune2/> | |||
===Pakistan Army=== | |||
When [[Pakistan|Pakistan received Independence in 1947]], he opted to join the [[Pakistan Army]]. On 1 January 1948, with the support of Sardar Fateh Muhammad Karailvi, he established the [[Azad Kashmir Regiment#Units|Haidri Force]] which was named ''Sher-e-Riasti Battalion'' under the command of Lt. Col. Muhammad Sher Khan and later renamed to 18th Battalion. Due to his dedication and leadership qualities, Janjua was promoted to [[Naik (military rank)|Naik]] and made [[Platoon Commander]] of the Sher-e-Riasti Battalion, now known as [[Azad Kashmir Regiment|18th Azad Kashmir Regiment]].<ref name=PakistanArmy>{{Cite web|title=Profile of Saif Ali Janjua|url=https://pakistanarmy.gov.pk/Naik-Saif-Ali-Janjua.php|access-date=2025-11-11|website=Pakistan Army website|url-status=dead|archive-date=7 November 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191107182258/https://pakistanarmy.gov.pk/Naik-Saif-Ali-Janjua.php}}</ref> | |||
He inflicted heavy losses on the enemy at ''Bhudha Khanna'' and repulsed the attacks of the Indian Army's 5th and 19th Brigade at Pir Kalewa on 20 October 1948. While deployed there, he faced constant frontal and crossfire from opposition machine guns. He defended his post and imposed significant losses on the [[Indian Army]].<ref name=PakistanArmy/> The enemy used every means to capture the post with the two companies' attacks and heavy shelling but he still managed to retain his post with just a handful of men.<ref name=Tribune/> | |||
==Death== | |||
During the battle, he was critically injured after being hit in the chest by artillery fire but despite this he crawled to collect ammunition from the dead and wounded soldiers to distribute it amongst the remaining surviving soldiers.<ref name=Tribune/> He was repositioning his surviving troops to defend against another wave of enemy attacks, when he was hit with an artillery shell fatally. He ultimately died on 26 October 1948.<ref name=PakistanArmy/> | |||
===Awarded Posthumously=== | |||
On 14 March 1949, the ''Defence Council of Azad Jammu & Kashmir'' posthumously adorned him with the [[Hilal-e-Kashmir]] and on 30 November 1995 the [[Government of Pakistan]] declared his [[Hilal-e-Kashmir]] equivalent to [[Nishan-e-Haider]].<ref name=PakistanArmy/> | |||
==References== | ==References== | ||
{{ | {{reflist}} | ||
==External links== | ==External links== | ||
{{Nishan-e-Haider|1948=Sif Ali Janjua}}{{authority control}} | {{Nishan-e-Haider|1948=Sif Ali Janjua}}{{authority control}} | ||
{{Pakistan Army template}} | |||
{{DEFAULTSORT:Janjua, Saif Ali}} | {{DEFAULTSORT:Janjua, Saif Ali}} | ||
[[Category:1922 births]] | [[Category:1922 births]] | ||
| Line 63: | Line 71: | ||
[[Category:Pahari Pothwari people]] | [[Category:Pahari Pothwari people]] | ||
[[Category:People from Kotli District]] | [[Category:People from Kotli District]] | ||
[[Category:People of the | [[Category:People of the India–Pakistan war of 1947–1948]] | ||
[[Category:Indian Army personnel of World War II]] | |||
[[Category:20th-century Pakistani military personnel]] | |||
[[Category:20th-century Indian military personnel]] | |||
[[Category:20th-century Indian Muslims]] | |||
[[Category:Pakistan Army personnel]] | |||
[[Category:People from Azad Kashmir]] | |||
[[Category:Recipients of Nishan-e-Haider]] | |||
Latest revision as of 12:37, 19 March 2026
Saif Ali Janjua | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | 23 April 1922 Nakyal, Kotli, Kashmir & Jammu, British India |
| Died | 26 October 1948 (aged 26) Mendhar, Jammu and Kashmir |
| Allegiance |
|
| Service/ |
|
| Years of service | 1941–1948 |
| Rank |  Naik |
| Unit | British Indian Royal Corps of Engineers (1941-47) 18 AK Regt (1948) |
| Battles/wars | |
| Awards |  Hilal-e-Kashmir Nishan-e-Haider |
| Spouse(s) | Zohra Bibi |
| Children | Muhammad Siddique Muhammad Raffique Tasweer Begum |
Naik Saif Ali Janjua (Script error: The function "langx" does not exist.; 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.[1]
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.[1][2]
Early life[edit | edit source]
Saif Ali Janjua was born into a family of the Punjabi Janjua Rajputs to Malik Muhammad Masoom Khan on 23 April 1922 in Nakyal, Kashmir & Jammu, British India.[3][1]
Personal life[edit | edit source]
Janjua was married to Zohra Bibi and had three children, Muhammad Siddique, Muhammad Raffique, and Tasweer Begum.[4]
Military career[edit | edit source]
British Indian Army[edit | edit source]
Saif Ali Janjua was enlisted into the Corps of Engineers in the British Indian Army as a Sepoy on 18 March 1941.[1] He served for four years during World War II and when the war ended, his unit sailed back to the Indian subcontinent and was stationed at Jalandhar and Lahore.[4]
Pakistan Army[edit | edit source]
When Pakistan received Independence in 1947, he opted to join the Pakistan Army. On 1 January 1948, with the support of Sardar Fateh Muhammad Karailvi, he established the Haidri Force which was named Sher-e-Riasti Battalion under the command of Lt. Col. Muhammad Sher Khan and later renamed to 18th Battalion. Due to his dedication and leadership qualities, Janjua was promoted to Naik and made Platoon Commander of the Sher-e-Riasti Battalion, now known as 18th Azad Kashmir Regiment.[1]
He inflicted heavy losses on the enemy at Bhudha Khanna and repulsed the attacks of the Indian Army's 5th and 19th Brigade at Pir Kalewa on 20 October 1948. While deployed there, he faced constant frontal and crossfire from opposition machine guns. He defended his post and imposed significant losses on the Indian Army.[1] The enemy used every means to capture the post with the two companies' attacks and heavy shelling but he still managed to retain his post with just a handful of men.[3]
Death[edit | edit source]
During the battle, he was critically injured after being hit in the chest by artillery fire but despite this he crawled to collect ammunition from the dead and wounded soldiers to distribute it amongst the remaining surviving soldiers.[3] He was repositioning his surviving troops to defend against another wave of enemy attacks, when he was hit with an artillery shell fatally. He ultimately died on 26 October 1948.[1]
Awarded Posthumously[edit | edit source]
On 14 March 1949, the Defence Council of Azad Jammu & Kashmir posthumously adorned him with the Hilal-e-Kashmir and on 30 November 1995 the Government of Pakistan declared his Hilal-e-Kashmir equivalent to Nishan-e-Haider.[1]
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 "Profile of Saif Ali Janjua". Pakistan Army website. Archived from the original on 7 November 2019. Retrieved 11 November 2025.
- ↑ Imran (6 November 2019). "Naik Saif Ali Janjua". MANI JUNCTION. Retrieved 22 September 2020.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 "Army pays tribute to Naik Saif Ali on martyrdom anniversary". The Express Tribune newspaper. 26 October 2021. Archived from the original on 26 October 2021. Retrieved 11 November 2025.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 "A true son of the soil remembered". The Express Tribune newspaper. 26 October 2020. Archived from the original on 31 October 2020. Retrieved 11 November 2025.
He left behind his wife, Zohra Bibi, and three children, Muhammad Siddique, Muhammad Raffique and Tasweer Begum. He had joined the Royal Corps of the British Indian Army as a sepoy on March 18, 1941. He served overseas for four years during World War II. When the war ended, his unit sailed back to the subcontinent, and remained stationed at Jalandhar and Lahore.