Naik Saif Ali Janjua was a Pakistan Army engineer officer and a platoon commander during the Indo-Pak war of 1947. He received the Hilal-e-Kashmir from the government of Azad Kashmir, which is equal to Nishan-e-Haider, the highest military award given by Pakistan. He fought in the Kashmir sector during the 1948 War and embraced martyrdom. The valiant soldier hailed from Kashmir. Sauf Ali Janjua belongs to famous Janjua clan of Rajput family.
Early Life and military Career
Naik Saif Ali Khan was born on 25 April 1922 in Khandbaz Tehsil Nakial (Azad
Jammu and Kashmir). He was enlisted in the Royal Corps of Engineers in
British Indian Army on 18 March 1941. He received his B.Sc. in combat
engineering in 1945 from Royal School of Military Engineering.
After completing his service in the British Indian Army in 1947, he came
back to his native town and started establishing Haidri Force with the
support of Sardar Fateh Muhammad Karailvi. After the creation of Pakistan,
he was inherited in Pakistan Army. Due to his engineering background, he was
inducted in Pakistan Army Corps of Engineers where he was stationed in
Kashmir region. Before starting the war, he served in the Pakistan Army's
civil projects that were started in Kashmir region.
Indo-Pakistani War of 1947-1948
On 1 Janaury 1948, Pakistan Army was raised as "Sher-e-Riasti Battalionâ€