New Delhi: The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has decided to enhance the security cover of External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar amid hostilities with Pakistan. According to multiple reports, a bulletproof vehicle has been added to his convoy, and security measures around his Delhi residence have also been intensified.
Jaishankar currently has Z-category protection, provided by a dedicated team of 33 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) commandos who guard him round the clock. The upgraded measures come in the wake of a fresh threat assessment following the military response to the Pahalgam terror attack through Operation Sindoor on May 7.
What is Z-category security cover?
The Z-category security cover — the third-highest in the country — includes 22 personnel, comprising 4 to 6 National Security Guard (NSG) commandos, local police officers, escort vehicles, and at least one bulletproof car. It is typically assigned to high-profile people facing major security threats.
The review comes in the wake of attack and counter attack by Islamabad and new Delhi after India’s precision strikes on terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir. Although both nations reached an understanding to de-escalate hostilities on May 10, security agencies remain on high alert.
In 2023 EAM’s security level was raised from Y to Z category
This is not the first time Jaishankar’s security has been upgraded. In October 2023, based on Intelligence Bureau inputs, his security level was raised from Y to Z category. At the time, 12 armed guards were stationed at his residence, with additional escort commandos, PSOs, and trained drivers deployed in shifts.
