Chitral Bodyguard

His Highness The Mehtar of Chitral's Own Bodyguard or informally The Chitral Bodyguard or Mehtar's Bodyguard was a military force under the direct command of the Mehtar of Chitral .

History

Upon the British occupation of Chitral following the Chitral Expedition of 1895 the British took a keen interest in reorganizing the states military capabilities. The Chitral Scouts, a force under direct British command was raised, but the Mehtar was also entitled to a personal military bodyguard.

The Mehtar's Bodyguard was raised by H.H. Mehtar Shuja-ul-Mulk in the early 1900's and was comprised of a professional standing army which had been raised by his father Shah Aman-ul-Mulk in the 1880's and by conscripts from the Yuft Caste of Chitral. The Yuft did not pay any taxes but served the Mehtar in times of war. The officers were selected from amongst members of the Katur Royal Family, related clans and senior Yuft nobles.

The Bodyguard first saw active combat during the Third Anglo-Afghan War in 1919. The Bodyguard under the command of Wali-Ehad Nasir-ul-Mulk (who succeeded his father as Mehtar), captured Birkot in the Kunar Province of Afghanistan. The Bodyguard carried away much booty from Kunar as well as taking many prisoners. Another arm of the Bodyguard went north to defend the Dorah and Boroghil passes with Badakhshan.

The Chitral Bodyguards most noteworthy accomplishments were during the Kashmir War of 1947-48. Under the terms of instrument of accession signed by H.H. Muzaffar-ul-Mulk Chitral State would continue to maintain an armed force, thus Chitral was in a position to take the Gilgit Agency from Kashmir. Following the revolt of the Gilgit Scouts the Mehtar sent The Bodyguard under the command of Shahzada Burhanuddin 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, due to the fact that they lacked artillery. In August a 400 strong force of the Chitral Bodyguard under Col. Shahzada Mata-ul-Mulk arrived in Skardu backed by two light mountain Guns. The Gilgit Scouts left Skardu and pushed on into Ladakh while with the help of artillery the Bodyguard took the Kharpoche Fort within weeks.

Following the death of H.H. Muzaffar-ul-Mulk and the constitutional crisis which subsequently erupted in Chitral State, the powers of the Bodyguard were curtailed. After 1954 the Bodyguard was reduced to a company of 100 men whose duty would be to serve as the Mehtar's personal security force. The Chitral Bodyguard was finally disbanded in 1969, when Chitral State was annexed by the Federal Government of Pakistan.

H.H. Saif-ur-Rahman inspecting a company of the Bodyguard.

Equipment and Organisation

The Headquarters of the Bodyguard was a portion of the Chitral Fort called Bodyguard-o-Sharaan where one company of Bodyguards was always stationed. Other companies of the Bodyguard would serve throughout the State. The total size of the Mehtar's Bodyguard in 1940 was 4000 men.

Upon its formation the Bodyguard used jezails of Badakhshani manufacture including the Siyah Kamaan and Kotha Kamaan together with the British .577 Snider-Enfield. After 1920 these weapons were replaced by the Lee-Enfield .303. Swords were used for close combat up to and including the 1947-48 Kashmir War.

The Chitral Bodyguard followed the ancient Chitrali tradition of going into battle with the accompaniment of musicians playing war tunes or Jhang Waar. These tunes were played on the surnay accompanied by drums. During the capture of Birkot the Afghans were surprised when they heard the Jhang Waar playing at dawn, as they did not have a tradition of martial music.