External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met Prince Rahim Aga Khan V in New Delhi on Thursday during the Aga Khan Development Network chairman’s first visit to India since becoming the 50th hereditary Imam of the Shia Ismaili Muslims.
The meeting focused on the Aga Khan Development Network’s work in social development and heritage preservation, along with opportunities to expand cooperation in India and other countries.
Jaishankar said the discussion covered the network’s impact in these areas and potential opportunities for further collaboration.
Prince Rahim arrived in India on Wednesday for a seven-day visit at the invitation of Vice President C.P. Radhakrishnan. According to the Ministry of External Affairs, his schedule through September 15 includes meetings with President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah.
He is also expected to travel to Ahmedabad, Mumbai and Hyderabad, where the Aga Khan Development Network is involved in several development and community initiatives.
Prince Rahim became the 50th hereditary Imam in February 2025 after the death of his father, Prince Karim Al-Hussaini Aga Khan IV. The Ismaili community follows a tradition of being guided by a living hereditary Imam and has members across more than 35 countries.
The visit also highlights India’s long-standing engagement with the Aga Khan Foundation and its initiatives in social development, community welfare and heritage preservation.
