As hostilities between India and Pakistan simmer following the April 22 Pahalgam terror strike, the Central government has upgraded the security cover of External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar, according to senior government sources.
In a decisive move following a fresh threat assessment by intelligence agencies, Jaishankar’s security detail has been reinforced with an additional bulletproof escort vehicle. This upgrade aims to enhance his protection during high-risk movements across the country.
Currently under ‘Z’ category security provided by the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Jaishankar’s detail comprises over a dozen armed commandos and an advanced convoy protocol. Officials familiar with the matter revealed that the security augmentation was prompted by “heightened threat levels linked to the fallout of India’s anti-terror Operation Sindoor and cross-border tensions with Pakistan.”
“Post the retaliatory strikes carried out by Indian forces, ministers handling key portfolios such as defence and foreign policy were marked for elevated security due to possible retaliatory threats,” a senior official confirmed on condition of anonymity.
The Ministry of Home Affairs approved the addition of the bulletproof escort vehicle earlier this week, and it has already been integrated into the minister’s convoy.
This move comes months after Jaishankar's security was elevated from ‘Y’ to ‘Z’ category in October 2024. Since then, the 69-year-old diplomat has emerged as one of the most visible faces of India’s tough diplomatic posture, particularly during and after Operation Sindoor—a precision military campaign that neutralised over 100 terrorists affiliated with proscribed outfits including Jaish-e-Mohammed, Lashkar-e-Taiba, and Hizbul Mujahideen across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
Following India's targeted counter-terror operations, Pakistan responded with a series of escalations including artillery shelling and attempted drone strikes near Indian military zones in Punjab and Jammu & Kashmir. These were swiftly repelled, with India launching precision retaliatory strikes on Pakistani military infrastructure.
