Since the time of Aman ul-Mulk an informal para-military force existed. In 1909 the force was formalised and came to consist of 6 companies, each with 110 men, thus the State Bodyguard Force came into being. Shuja ul-Mulk as Mehtar was to be the Chief Commander of the force. With the passage of time the force grew so as to include as many as 40 companies consisting of over 4,000 strong men. The force played a vital role in the defence of Chitral during the Anglo-Afghan War of 1919.