Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki is paying a four-day state visit to India beginning today at the invitation of his Indian counterpart Dr. Manmohan Singh.

He is accompanied by a high-level delegation, including ministers, senior officials and Captains of Industry during the visit.

This is the first Head of Government-level visit between the two countries since 1975 when the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi visited Iraq.

During the visit, Prime Minister Maliki will call on President Pranab Mukherjee and Vice-President Mohammad Hamid Ansari.

He will hold bilateral talks with Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, who will also host an official banquet in honour of the visiting Iraqi leader on August 23.

His other engagements would include meetings with the Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha, Sushma Swaraj, and External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid.

Maliki will attend a business luncheon meeting jointly organized by the three business chambers, FICCI, CII and ASSOCHAM.