Srinagar, April 7 -- The event, attended by diplomats, scholars, leadersof various faiths and students, also marked the farewell of outgoing representativeHaj Agha Mahdavipour, whose 15-year tenure was hailed as a "golden era" for Shia outreach and Iran-India spiritual engagement.

Ayatollah Qummi's address was more than ceremonial-it was steeped in the strategic and spiritual undertones of Iran's soft power outreach in South Asia. Opening with blessings upon the Prophet Muhammad (Pbuh) and the Ahlul Bayt, he described Indo-Iranian ties as a "civilizational bridge," emphasizing that religious leadership plays a pivotal role in nurturing these age-old connections.

"The relationship between Iran and India is not merely diplomatic-it is spi...