On January 22, 2026, India condemned the act of trespassing and vandalism at its embassy in Zagreb, Croatia, by "anti-India elements". The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) issued a statement describing the incident as a violation of international law. India has taken up the matter with Croatian authorities in both New Delhi and Zagreb, demanding that the perpetrators be held accountable for their "reprehensible and illegal actions".
The MEA emphasized that diplomatic premises are inviolable and must be protected under the Vienna Convention. The ministry's statement also asserted that the actions of the perpetrators "speak of the character and motives of those behind them," urging law enforcement authorities worldwide to take note.
The condemnation follows claims made on social media by the proscribed group Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) that its supporters removed the Indian national flag from the embassy premises and replaced it with a Khalistan flag. A video posted online by SFJ leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun showed a Khalistani activist taking down the Indian flag and replacing it with the yellow Khalistan flag. The incident reportedly occurred on January 22.
SFJ framed the incident as a political act ahead of India's Republic Day on January 26, with European officials expected to attend the ceremony in New Delhi. Pannun was quoted in videos making threats against Indian diplomatic missions, asserting that Indian embassies would be taken over in the future. The group's messaging also repeated allegations against the Indian state, which New Delhi has consistently rejected. Khalistani activists also allegedly defaced the walls of the Indian Embassy with slogans such as “Khalistan Zindabad”.
This is the latest in a series of actions by Khalistani activists targeting Indian missions abroad, with previous incidents reported in Canada, the UK, and the US. The timing of the incident is particularly noteworthy, as it occurred days before the India-EU Summit in New Delhi on January 27, where European Council President Antonio Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen are expected to be chief guests at Republic Day celebrations.
