Sawar Khan was commissioned into the Regiment of Artillery of the Indian Army in 1946 after his passing out from the OTS in Bangalore. As an army captain, Sawar served as an instructor gunnery (IG) at the School of Artillery. His combat services witnessed his participation in second and third war with India. In 1975-76, Maj-Gen. Sawar was posted in Army GHQ in Rawalpindi as an Adjutant-General.