Prince Rahim Aga Khan V Arrives In India For Week-Long Visit

Prince Rahim Aga Khan V, the 50th hereditary Imam and spiritual leader of the Shia Ismaili Muslims, arrived in India on Thursday for a seven-day visit at the invitation of Vice President C.P. Radhakrishnan. The visit marks his first trip to India since becoming the 50th Imam of the Ismaili community and is expected to strengthen engagement between India and the Aga Khan Development Network.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said the visit would provide an opportunity to review ongoing cooperation with the Aga Khan Development Network in areas including social development and heritage preservation. It will also allow both sides to explore further collaboration on development and community initiatives. Prince Rahim will remain in India until September 15 as part of the week-long programme.

During his stay in New Delhi, Prince Rahim is scheduled to call on President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He is also expected to meet Union Home Minister Amit Shah and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar. The engagements are likely to cover areas of mutual interest and ongoing cooperation involving the Aga Khan Development Network.

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Beyond the national capital, Prince Rahim will visit Ahmedabad, Mumbai and Hyderabad, where the Aga Khan Development Network has been involved in various development and community initiatives. His visit comes against the backdrop of longstanding engagement between the Aga Khan Foundation and India, including work related to social development and the preservation of heritage sites.

Prince Rahim became the 50th hereditary Imam of the Shia Ismaili Muslims in February 2025 following the death of his father, Prince Karim Al-Hussaini Aga Khan IV. The succession took place in accordance with the historical Shia Imami Ismaili tradition, under which the community has been led by a living hereditary Imam throughout its 1,400-year history. The Ismaili community is present in more than 35 countries and numbers an estimated 12 to 15 million people.

Prince Rahim also serves on the boards of several agencies of the Aga Khan Development Network and has closely followed the work of the Institute of Ismaili Studies and the Ismaili community’s social governance institutions. His visit also recalls the longstanding relationship between his family and India. Prime Minister Modi had condoled the death of Aga Khan IV last year, describing him as a visionary who dedicated his life to service and spirituality.

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