PM Modi's joint statement with Luxon: 'Concerned about anti-India elements in New Zealand'

Prime Minister Narendra Modi with his New Zealand counterpart Christopher Luxon before a meeting at Hyderabad House in New Delhi on Monday.

Amid New Delhi and Wellington inking a mega pact to institutionalise their defence and security ties, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday expressed concerns over anti-India elements in New Zealand.

PM Modi and his New Zealand Christopher Luxon counterpart issued a joint press statement and witnessed the exchange of agreements between the two countries in Delhi.

"I welcome PM Luxon and his cabinet to India... PM Luxon is connected to India. We saw how he celebrated Holi recently... We are happy that a young leader like him is our chief guest at the Raisina Dialogue 2025..." said PM Modi.

PM Modi and Luxon held wide-ranging talks with a focus on ramping up overall bilateral ties, especially in areas of trade, defence, education and agriculture.

#WATCH | Delhi: During the joint press statement with New Zealand PM Christopher Luxon, PM Modi says, "I welcome PM Luxon and his cabinet to India... PM Luxon is connected to India. We saw how he celebrated Holi recently... We are happy that a young leader like him is our chief pic.twitter.com/lFLU7Q6f9E

ANI (@ANI) March 17, 2025

In his media statement, Modi said both sides decided to strengthen and institutionalise defence and security partnership and a road map will be prepared for cooperation in the defence industry sector.

"We both are unanimous against terrorism. Whether it is the Christchurch terrorist attack of March 15, 2019, or the Mumbai attack of November 26, 2008, terrorism in any form is unacceptable," he said. The prime minister said strict action is necessary against those guilty of terrorist attacks.

"We will continue to cooperate together against terrorist, separatist and radical elements," Modi said. "In this context, we shared our concern about anti-India activities by some illegal elements in New Zealand," he said.

PM Modi said India is confident that it will continue to receive cooperation from the New Zealand government against all these "illegal elements".

The PM also referred to India and New Zealand deciding to start negotiations for a mutually beneficial free trade pact. "This will boost the potential of mutual trade and investment. Mutual cooperation and investment will be encouraged in areas like dairy, food processing, and pharma," he said.

PM Modi also said India and New Zealand support a free, open and secure Indo-Pacific. "We believe in the policy of development, not expansionism," he said.

The New Zealand Prime Minister said Modi and he discussed a challenging strategic outlook in the Indo-Pacific. "I reiterated our strong commitment to address shared concerns over our respective interests in contributing to a prosperous Indo-Pacific," Luxon said.

On the discussion regarding Khalistan between PM Modi and New Zealand PM Luxon, Secretary (East) Jaideep Mazumdar said, "About Khalistam, this was an issue that came up... We do alert our friends to the activities of anti-India elements in their countries and their abuse of freedom of speech and other democratic freedoms to glorify terrorism and to threaten attacks against our diplomats, our parliament or our events in India. So these were also conveyed. The government of New Zealand has been receptive and has taken our concerns on board in the past as well..."