Chitral Bodyguard

Chitral Bodyguard or informally the Mehtar's Bodyguard, was a military force under the direct command of the Mehtar of the princely state of Chitral.

Upon British occupation of Chitral following the Chitral Expedition of 1895, the British took a keen interest in reorganizing the state's military capabilities. In 1903 the Chitral Scouts, a force under direct British command, was raised. The Mehtar (native ruler) was also entitled to a personal military bodyguard.

The Mehtar's Bodyguard was raised by Mehtar Shuja ul-Mulk in the early 1900s and consisted of a professional standing army which had been raised by his father Aman ul-Mulk in the 1880s and by conscripts from the Yuft caste of Chitral, who were exempted from taxes but served the Mehtar in times of war. The officers were selected from amongst the Katur and related clans.

The Bodyguard first saw active combat during the Third Anglo-Afghan War in 1919. The Bodyguard, under the command of Nasir ul-Mulk, captured Birkot in the Kunar Province of Afghanistan, carrying away much booty from Kunar as well as taking many prisoners. Another arm of the Bodyguard went north to defend the Dorah and Broghol passes with Badakhshan. Yet another company of the Bodyguard, led by Khan Bahadur Dilaram Khan, captured Barge Matal in Nuristan after some light hearted resistance by Afghan troops. The locals supported Chitral and reaffirmed their age-old allegiance to the Mehtar's rule.

The Chitral Bodyguards most noteworthy accomplishments were during the Kashmir War of 1947-48. Under the terms of instrument of accession, signed by Mehtar Muzaffar ul-Mulk, Chitral State would continue to maintain an armed force, thus Chitral was in a position to take the Gilgit Agency away from Kashmir. Following the revolt of the Gilgit Scouts, the Mehtar sent his Bodyguard, under the command of Burhan-ud-Din, to secure Gilgit town and reinforce the Gilgit Scouts in the Astore Sector. In August 1948, the Gilgit Scouts had been conducting the Siege of Skardu for several months but had been unable to take the Dogra Garrison within the fortress of Kharpoche (Skardu Fort), because they lacked artillery. In August a 400 strong force of the Chitral Bodyguard, under Mata ul-Mulk, arrived in Skardu, backed by four light Mountain Guns. The Gilgit Scouts left Skardu and pushed on into Ladakh, while the Bodyguard, with the help of artillery, took the Kharpoche Fort within weeks.

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