Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who became Iran's most powerful leader in 1989, visited India in 1981 before taking on that role. At the age of 41, Khamenei was recognized as a religious figure during the early years of the Islamic Republic. His visit included places like Bangalore and Alipur, the latter being a locality known for its significant Shia Muslim population and a historic link with Iran through religious and educational ties. Photographs published on Khamenei's official website show crowds welcoming him in 1981 at these locations, and it's noted that he inaugurated a hospital built with the support of the Iranian government in Alipur.

During his visit to Kashmir, reports indicate that Khamenei addressed a gathering in Srinagar, a region that was experiencing communal tensions at the time. He conducted Friday prayers at a Sunni mosque, during which he delivered a 15-minute speech highlighting themes of unity and solidarity among Muslims in the region. Khamenei’s visit is remembered within the context of both the socio-political climate of 1981 and the enduring relations between Iran and India, particularly concerning their respective Muslim populations, showing how historical visits can have lasting implications on diplomatic and cultural ties.