This drew him closer to the tribal leaders of the North-West Frontier of British India leading him to join them in the Sra Ghaza (Red Jihad) of 1908 during the Bazar Valley and Mohmand Expedition.

[2] Due to his frequent activity in crossing the Durand line when fighting the British, Emir Habibullah detained him out of suspicion till the King himself had died in February 1919, and Mir Zaman was released.

He caught the attention of Amanullah Khan as a courageous anti-British fighter, he built up a strong influence around the tribes of Kunar and had a close relationship with the Amir, whose mother considered him as her own "adopted son".

[1] In February 1929, the Commander of the Royal Afghan force in Jalalabad, Sardār Ali Ahmad Khan rebelled and proclaimed himself King of Afghanistan.

Mir Zaman then left on a campaign for Kunar Province to gather support to attack the forces of Habibullāh Kalakāni.