Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan has decried the Indian leadership as "small men occupying big offices" after they cancelled a high level meeting.

The leader tweeted the remarks after India cancelled a meeting between the country's foreign ministers, planned for the fringe of the UN General Assembly meeting later this month.

"Disappointed at the arrogant & negative response by India to my call for resumption of the peace dialogue," he said.

"However, all my life I have come across small men occupying big offices who do not have the vision to see the larger picture."

India called off the meeting on Friday, in what it said was a protest against the deaths of Indian security personnel in Kashmir. It described the deaths as "brutal killings" by "Pakistan-based entities".


It also objected to a postage stamp it said glorified a separatist who was killed by Indian forces in the disputed region last year.

Disappointed at the arrogant & negative response by India to my call for resumption of the peace dialogue. However, all my life I have come across small men occupying big offices who do not have the vision to see the larger picture. — Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) 22 September 2018

The Indian government's decision to hold talks had been strongly criticised by opposition groups, and external affairs ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said events had rendered any discussion with Pakistan meaningless.

"Now, it is obvious that behind Pakistan's proposal for talks to make a fresh beginning, the evil agenda of Pakistan stands exposed and the true face of the new prime minister of Pakistan Imran Khan has been revealed," he said.

Pakistan has rejected the allegations.

The mutilated body of an Indian border guard was discovered in Kashmir this week, followed by three other policemen whose bodies were discovered after they were abducted in the region.

Kahsmir is a site of conflict for the neighbouring nuclear-armed states. India accuses Islamabad of arming violent rebels in the state, while Pakistan insists it supports Kashmir's right to self-determination and has fought insurgency.

High level talks between India and Pakistan are rare and the planned meeting in New York, set to be between Pakistan's Shah Mehmood Qureshi and Indian foreign minister Sushma Swaraj, was only confirmed on Thursday.

Mr Qureshi expressed his disappointment, saying "clapping can't be don't by a single hand".

"We want to get out of the past and we have taken a step forward but unfortunately India has taken a step back," he said.

Mr Khan had written to India Prime Minister Narendra Modi to call for a resumption of talks, in what would have been the first meeting in nearly three years.