LinetteFisher at 22:46, 27 August 2025

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{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2017}}
{{Use Indian English|date=June 2017}}
'''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 (princely state) |Chitral]].<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=D80EAAAAMAAJ&q=chitral+bodyguards|title=Memoranda on the Indian States|date=1939-01-01|publisher=Manager of Publications|pages=207|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=twq2AAAAIAAJ&q=chitral+bodyguards|title=Memoranda on the India States, 1930: (Corrected Up to the 1st January 1930).|last=Branch|first=India Manager, Government of India Central Publication|date=1931-01-01|pages=100|language=en}}</ref>

== History ==
Upon [[British Raj|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.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mJQ3AQAAMAAJ&q=chitral+scouts+1903|title=Imperial Gazetteer of India: Provincial series. North-west Frontier Province|date=2002-01-01|publisher=Sang-e-Meel Publications|isbn=9789693513363|pages=71|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EYffAAAAMAAJ&q=chitral+scouts+1903|title=Defence Journal|date=1994-01-01|pages=20|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NXY5AAAAIAAJ&q=chitral+scouts+1903|title=The Himalayan Journal|date=1936-01-01|publisher=Oxford University Press|pages=153|language=en}}</ref> The Mehtar (native ruler) was also entitled to a personal military bodyguard.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=AXAABAAAQBAJ&q=chitral+bodyguards&pg=RA1-PA281|title=Hist Afghanistan V 1 & 2|last=Sykes|first=Percy|date=2014-07-10|publisher=Routledge|isbn=9781317845874|pages=307|language=en}}</ref>

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 [[conscription|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 [[Katoor Dynasty|Katur]] and related clans.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Iwru5G6KMOMC&q=chitral+bodyguards|title=Notes on Chitral|last=Scott|first=Ian Dixon|date=1937-01-01|publisher=Manager, Government of India Press|language=en}}</ref>

The Bodyguard first saw active combat during the [[Third Anglo-Afghan War]] in 1919.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PggeAAAAMAAJ&q=chitral+bodyguards+1919|title=Viceroy's Agent|last=Trench|first=Charles Chenevix|author-link=Charles Chenevix Trench|date=1987-01-01|publisher=Jonathan Cape|isbn=9780224024785|pages=41|language=en}}</ref> The Bodyguard, under the command of [[Nasir ul-Mulk]], captured [[Birkot]] in the [[Kunar Province]] of [[Afghanistan]],<ref>Lt-Col. Mohammad Afzal Khan. Chitral and Kafirstan - A Personal Study. Ferozsons (Peshawar) Ltd., 1973</ref> carrying away much booty from Kunar as well as taking many prisoners.<ref>
IUCN Pakistan (2004). Chitral: A Study in Statecraft (1320–1969).
IUCN Pakistan, Karachi, Pakistan</ref> Another arm of the Bodyguard went north to defend the [[Dorah Pass|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.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=AXAABAAAQBAJ&q=chitral+bodyguards+1919&pg=RA1-PA281|title=Hist Afghanistan V 1 & 2|last=Sykes|first=Percy|date=2014-07-10|publisher=Routledge|isbn=9781317845874|pages=281|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3gvfAAAAMAAJ&q=chitral+bodyguards+1919|title=Sons of John Company: The Indian and Pakistan Armies 1903-91|last=Gaylor|first=John|date=1992-01-01|publisher=Spellmount|isbn=9780946771981|pages=310|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nxNDAQAAIAAJ&q=chitral+bodyguards+1919|title=Pioneer Mail and Indian Weekly News|date=1919-01-01|language=en}}</ref>

The Chitral Bodyguards most noteworthy accomplishments were during the [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1947|Kashmir War of 1947-48]]. Under the terms of [[Instrument of Accession|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 of Chitral|Burhan-ud-Din]], to secure [[Gilgit]] town and reinforce the Gilgit Scouts in the [[Astore Valley|Astore Sector]].{{cn|date=August 2020}} In August 1948, the Gilgit Scouts had been conducting the [[Siege of Skardu]] for several months but had been unable to take the [[Dogras|Dogra]] Garrison within the fortress of [[Skardu Fort|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 gun|Mountain Guns]].{{cn|date=August 2020}} The [[Gilgit Scouts]] left Skardu and pushed on into [[Ladakh]], while the Bodyguard, with the help of artillery, took the [[Skardu Fort|Kharpoche Fort]] within weeks.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kv0VAQAAMAAJ&q=siege+of+skardu|title=The Pakistan Review|date=1963-01-01|publisher=Ferozsons Limited|pages=16|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7sneAAAAMAAJ&q=siege+of+skardu+chitral|title=In the Line of Duty: A Soldier Remembers|last=Singh|first=Harbakhsh|date=2000-01-01|publisher=Lancer Publishers & Distributors|isbn=9788170621065|language=en}}</ref>

Following the death of Mehtar [[Muzaffar ul-Mulk]] and the constitutional crisis which subsequently erupted in [[Chitral (princely state)|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 [[Annexation|annexed]] by the [[Federal Government of Pakistan|Government of Pakistan]].

== Equipment and organization ==
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.<ref>IUCN Pakistan (2004). Chitral: A Study in Statecraft (1320–1969).
IUCN Pakistan, Karachi, Pakistan</ref><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kFzfAAAAMAAJ&q=siege+of+skardu+chitral|title=Journal of the United Service Institution of India|date=1992-01-01|publisher=United Service Institution of India.|pages=341|language=en}}</ref>

Upon its formation the Bodyguard used [[jezail]]s of Badakhshani manufacture including the Siyah Kamaan and Kotha Kamaan together with the British .577 [[Snider–Enfield]] and .577 [[Martini–Henry]]. 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 Bodyguard also had a [[Russia]]n [[PM M1910]] machine gun which had been donated by a [[Central Asia]]n refugee prince fleeing the [[October Revolution|Bolshevik Revolution]]. The Bodyguard's artillery included several Afghan-made cannons (including four seized from Birkot in 1919) and six [[3.7-inch mountain howitzer]]s.

The Chitral Bodyguard followed the ancient Chitrali tradition of going into battle with the accompaniment of musicians playing [[war tune]]s <ref>IUCN Pakistan (2004). Chitral: A Study in Statecraft (1320–1969). IUCN Pakistan, Karachi, Pakistan</ref> or ''Jhang Waar''. These tunes were played on the [[zurna|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.

== See also==
* [[State of Chitral]]
* [[Katoor Dynasty]]
* [[Third Anglo-Afghan War]]
* [[First Kashmir War]]

== References ==
<references/>

[[Category:Military units and formations of the princely states of India]]
[[Category:Chitral (princely state)]]
[[Category:Military units and formations disestablished in 1969]]

Chitral Bodyguard - Revision history

LinetteFisher at 22:46, 27 August 2025