KARACHI: As JD Vance is arriving in Pakistan for high-stakes US-Iran negotiations, aviation watchers noted an unusual detail: his aircraft used the call sign “SAM095” instead of the traditional “Air Force Two”.
Officials say the shift reflects operational security protocols rather than any break from tradition. Typically, “Air Force Two” is used when the US vice president is aboard a US Air Force aircraft, making the flight instantly identifiable. In sensitive missions — especially those involving volatile regional dynamics — a “Special Air Mission” (SAM) call sign is used to reduce visibility, enhance discretion, and complicate tracking.
With tightened secrecy in the air and unprecedented security on the ground, even the choice of a call sign underscores the sensitivity and global stakes surrounding the Islamabad talks.
