NEW DELHI — Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with Prince Rahim Aga Khan V, the 50th hereditary Imam of the Shia Ismaili Muslims, on Thursday to hold wide-ranging talks on strengthening India’s long-standing partnership with the Aga Khan Development Network. The high-level discussions focused primarily on enhancing collaboration across vital social sectors, including agricultural modernisation, rural infrastructure, healthcare delivery, and initiatives designed to support youth engagement and women’s economic empowerment across the country.
The meeting marks Prince Rahim’s inaugural official visit to India since his accession as the spiritual leader of the global Ismaili community. The spiritual leader is currently on a week-long tour of the nation, scheduled from September 9 to September 15, following a formal invitation extended by Vice-President C. P. Radhakrishnan. The visit highlights the enduring historical, cultural, and philanthropic connection between the Ismaili Imamat and the Republic of India.
Reflecting on the productive bilateral meeting, Prime Minister Modi shared details of the interaction on social media platform X, expressing his appreciation for the meaningful dialogue. He noted that the discussions offered a valuable opportunity to fondly recall the remarkable life and enduring legacy of Prince Rahim’s father, the late Aga Khan IV, whose decades of visionary leadership contributed extensively to humanitarian work, social welfare, and architectural conservation in India and around the globe. The Prime Minister reaffirmed New Delhi’s dedication to collaborating closely with the network to advance shared objectives in sustainable development, educational advancement, and social welfare.
Following his engagements in the national capital, Prince Rahim is scheduled to visit several key cultural and economic hubs, including Ahmedabad, Mumbai, and Hyderabad. These major urban centres host significant development initiatives, educational institutions, specialised healthcare centres, and heritage restoration projects managed under the network’s philanthropic umbrella. The multi-city tour aims to review ongoing programmes on the ground, interact with local community leaders, and explore fresh avenues for institutional cooperation to address emerging socio-economic challenges, promote environmental sustainability, and support marginalised communities throughout the country.
