Islamabad: Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan labelled India arrogant on Saturday for cancelling what would have been the countries' first high-level talks in years, decrying "small men occupying big offices" who opposed change.
India on Friday called off the meeting between the nuclear-armed neighbours' foreign ministers, planned for the sidelines of the UN General Assembly this month.
The foreign ministry in New Delhi said its decision was to protest the killing of Indian security personnel in Kashmir and a Pakistani postage stamp it said was "glorifying" an anti-India separatist who Indian forces killed in the disputed Himalayan region last year.
Pakistan described India's reasons as excuses to enable it to avoid holding talks before national elections next year.
Khan, a former national cricket captain, followed up on Twitter.
"Disappointed at the arrogant and negative response by India to my call for resumption of the peace dialogue," Khan wrote on his official account.
"However, all my life I have come across small men occupying big offices who do not have the vision to see the larger picture."
Pakistan has issued postage stamps in memory of Burhan Wani, a Hizbul Mujahideen leader who was shot dead by Indian security forces in July 2016, sparking widespread street protests.
India called off the talks on Friday after terrorists abducted and gunned down three policemen in Jammu and Kashmir, marking a sharp escalation in militancy in the state which India says is backed by Pakistan.
The development came 24 hours after the External Affairs Ministry announced that India had accepted Pakistan's request for a meeting between Sushma Swaraj and Qureshi. India said on Friday that it agreed for the New York meeting in response to the spirit reflected in the letters from Pakistan's new Prime Minister Imran Khan as well as Qureshi.
