I did several trips with Atal Bihari Vajpayee in India and overseas, when I was part of the Special Protection Group, including one to Pakistan in 1999. The Opposition was dead against the trip, and there had been violent protests there. Windows of the diplomatic cars, which had gone to the area, were smashed during heavy stone-pelting. We saw this and reported it to our director, who informed Pakistan and our PM, that the route was not safe to travel.

We demanded that our Pakistan counterparts clear the route. They, however, did not believe us, saying there was nothing of this sort, and that their PM was waiting only because the Indian PM had not moved. Finally, they checked the route and found that our concerns were correct. They then cleared the route.