Did Jaishankar Face Threat To His Life In US? Forced To Drive Over 670 Km In Freezing Cold

Washington: Renowned worldwide for his diplomatic prowess, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar is known to handle even the most complex geopolitical issue with his trademark panache. However, there is one incident which even the usually unflappable Jaishankar must have found to be a bit much.

What difficulty did Jaishankar face?

The EAM had faced a strange situation in the United States last year. This incident occurred in September, when all commercial flights were suddenly halted due to a government shutdown in the United States. At that time, Jaishankar was scheduled to meet with United Nations (UN) chief Antonio Guterres in New York. A recent US State Department report has revealed this daring journey. Security personnel were on high alert during the trip, with 27 agents accompanying him. Along the way, he faced freezing cold, low visibility, and even a bomb squad inspection. The entire story, which has recently been made public, reads like something out of a thriller film.

What was Jaishankar's compulsion?

This incident occurred in September last year. At that time, a massive political crisis in the United States had led to a government shutdown. This severely disrupted air traffic across the country, bringing flights to a halt.

Jaishankar was near the Lewiston-Queenston Bridge on the US-Canada border at the time. He needed to reach New York on time, as he had an important meeting scheduled there with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

After flights were cancelled, his only option was to travel by road. US security officials immediately took charge. They received the Foreign Minister and began the seven-hour journey to Manhattan, a journey of approximately 416 miles (670 kilometers).

Was there any major security threat?

Securing the EAM was no small matter. The US Diplomatic Security Service (DSS) deployed 27 of its best agents for this mission. These agents were called from various field offices in New York and Buffalo. Every detail of security was monitored during the journey.

According to the report, at one point, while the security team was changing, an Explosive Detection Dog alerted the EAM's armoured vehicle, causing a moment of panic. Bomb disposal experts were immediately called in, and the entire vehicle was thoroughly inspected. Only after the inspection was everything found safe was the convoy allowed to proceed.

How did Jaishankar reach safely amid the freezing cold?

The journey was difficult, as the upstate New York area was experiencing freezing temperatures. Visibility was very low, and the roads were slippery. Given the long distance, security agents took turns driving to avoid fatigue. When the convoy reached New York City, security agents spotted a woman involved in a road accident. She was seriously injured in a hit-and-run incident.

An agent assigned to Jaishankar's security immediately helped the woman. The remaining agents coordinated with the police and fire brigade to clear the road. Despite this incident, Jaishankar's security was not compromised. He had managed to reach the meeting on time.