Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
Zagreb/New Delhi, Jan 22: India on Thursday strongly condemned the trespassing and vandalism at its Embassy in Zagreb, Croatia, by anti-India elements, and said it has urged Croatian authorities to hold the perpetrators accountable.
In a statement, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) highlighted that diplomatic premises are inviolable under the Vienna Convention and must be protected. “We condemn the incident of trespassing and vandalism at our Embassy in Zagreb by anti-India elements. We have taken up the matter strongly with Croatian authorities in New Delhi and Zagreb and asked them to ensure the perpetrators face action for their reprehensible and illegal acts,” the MEA said. The ministry added that such incidents reflect the motives of those behind them and that law enforcement agencies worldwide should take note.
Reports on social media indicated that Khalistani activists were involved in the attack, which coincided with an upcoming European Union leaders’ visit to New Delhi for Republic Day celebrations.
The statement comes in the backdrop of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s historic visit to Zagreb last year, the first-ever by an Indian Prime Minister. During the visit, PM Modi thanked Croatia for supporting India’s fight against terrorism and discussed ways to deepen bilateral ties with Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic. The two leaders explored cooperation across sectors including digital technology, space, renewable energy, defence, maritime infrastructure, tourism, and hospitality.
Emphasizing shared values such as democracy, rule of law, pluralism, and equality, PM Modi acknowledged Croatia’s support following the terrorist attack in India on April 22, 2025, and underlined the importance of strengthening India-EU strategic relations. Both countries also committed to boosting bilateral trade and developing reliable supply chains, with a focus on sectors such as pharmaceuticals, agriculture, IT, clean and digital technologies, semiconductors, shipbuilding, and cybersecurity.
India’s statement underlines that attacks on diplomatic missions are unacceptable and that perpetrators must be held accountable, reinforcing the importance of protecting international norms and fostering safe diplomatic engagement.