Moscow, 17 April

Haji Syed Salman Chishty, the Gaddi Nashin of Dargah Ajmer Sharif and the Chairman of the Chishty Foundation, held official meetings in Moscow that brought together the essential pillars of India–Russia relations: diplomacy, bilateral trade, spiritual fellowship, interfaith dialogue and BRICS collaboration.

Haji Syed Salman Chishty called upon Vinay Kumar, the Ambassador of India to the Russian Federation, accompanied by Nikhilesh Giri, the Deputy Chief of Mission (DCM) and senior embassy officials.

The delegation included Suhail Vakil, the Director of the Al Vakil Manpower Company, and Ilyas, a representative of the Deputy Grand Mufti Sheikh Damir Hazrat, who serves under His Holiness Mufti Sheikh Ravil Gaynutdinov, the Chairman of the Russian Muftis Council and the Religious Board of Muslims of the Russian Federation.

Discussions spanned a broad agenda from strengthening people-to-people connections through diplomacy to exploring concrete avenues for trade and manpower cooperation.

The meeting also addressed the deep civilizational and spiritual bonds between India and Russia, the importance of sustained interfaith dialogue between the two nations, their communities, and opportunities for joint engagement within the BRICS framework in pursuit of the shared goals of peace and equitable global development.

Haji Syed Salman Chishty visited the Grand Cathedral Mosque Centre in Moscow, one of the largest mosques in Europe,  where he held a meeting with Hazrat Damir Mukhetdinov, who serves as the First Deputy Chairman of the Religious Board of Muslims of the Russian Federation and principal of the Moscow Islamic Institute.

The meeting provided space for open and sincere exchange of thoughts, ideas, and vision. Conversations focused on deepening intellectual and spiritual ties between the Indian and Russian Muslim communities, identifying shared platforms for business and cultural initiatives rooted in Islamic values, developing programmes for youth and educational exchange, and advancing global peace initiatives in the universal spirit of love, tolerance, and service to humanity.

The dialogue concluded with prayers for world peace, unity and harmony, offered together as a collective supplication for a world bound by peace, compassion, and shared humanity. Both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to building enduring bridges across nations, faiths, and communities.

“The bonds between India and Russia are ancient. When spiritual wisdom walks hand in hand with diplomatic vision and honest trade, we build not merely partnerships between nations, we build peace. This is the noble way,” Haji Syed Salman Chishty said.