NEW DELHI, May 14 – External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar’s security has been upgraded with the deployment of two bullet-resistant vehicles, officials said Wednesday. This enhancement follows a recent evaluation of his Z category security provided by central armed forces.
The move comes shortly after a military clash between India and Pakistan and amid India’s strong diplomatic response to the April 22 terrorist attack in Pahalgam that resulted in 26 fatalities. In the wake of these events, Jaishankar has played a key role in India’s diplomatic offensive, including speaking with global leaders about “Operation Sindoor,” launched in retaliation for the Pahalgam attack.
Central intelligence agencies recently assessed Jaishankar’s security and recommended strengthening it, leading to the addition of bulletproof vehicles to his convoy. The new vehicles were added to better address potential threats, officials said.
Jaishankar’s security was previously elevated from Y to Z category by the Union Home Ministry in 2023, based on threat assessments. The Z category is the second-highest level of security under the central government’s VIP protection system.
The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF)’s VIP security division is responsible for providing Jaishankar’s armed protection. The CRPF currently safeguards about 200 high-profile individuals, including Home Minister Amit Shah and members of the Gandhi family — Sonia, Rahul, and Priyanka.
