Centre enhances External Affairs Minister Jaishankar security cover; he gets two bullet-proof vehicles

The security cover of External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has been strengthened with the addition of two bullet-resistant vehicles following a review of his Z category armed central protection recently, news agency PTI quoting official sources said on Wednesday.

The move comes days after a military conflict between India and Pakistan, and amid New Delhi's punitive diplomatic measures against Islamabad following the April 22 Pahalgam terrorist attack, which claimed 26 lives.

Jaishankar, 70, has been helming the Ministry of External Affairs' (MEA) initiatives in this regard. He has been speaking to various world leaders and foreign ministers of various countries about Operation Sindoor carried out by India in response to the Pahalgam attack.

Strengthened security cover for EAM Jaishankar

The sources told PTI that a recent review of Jaishankar's armed security was undertaken by central intelligence agencies and they recommended the addition of bullet-resistant vehicles to his Z category convoy.

The security requirements necessitated the addition of two new vehicles that are bullet resistant and this arrangement has been made recently, they said.

Overall, the security arrangements of the VIP have been strengthened, they added.

Following a similar review and inputs on his threat perception, the Union home ministry upgraded Jaishankar's protection level from the Y category to the second-highest Z in 2023.

The Central Reserve Police Force's (CRPF) VIP security wing provides armed cover to the minister.

The VIP security cover under the central protection list begins from Z-plus (Advanced Security Liaison) to Z-plus, Z, Y, Y-plus and X.

The CRPF's VIP security cover has about 200 protectees at present, including Union Home Minister Amit Shah and the Congress' first family – Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra.

India-Pakistan conflict

Operation Sindoor, launched on May 7, targeted terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir, leading to the death of over 100 terrorists affiliated with terror outfits like the Jaish-e-Mohammed, Lashkar-e-Taiba and Hizbul Mujahideen.

After the attack, Pakistan retaliated with cross-border shelling across the Line of Control and Jammu and Kashmir as well as attempted drone attacks along the border regions, following which India launched a coordinated attack and damaged radar infrastructure, communication centres and airfields across 11 airbases in Pakistan.

After this, on May 10, an understanding of the cessation of hostilities between India and Pakistan was announced.