Islamabad: Pakistan on May 9 voiced its unhappiness over India "picking holes" in its package of confidence-building measures (CBMs) but said it expected direct bilateral talks after US Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage concludes his visit to the subcontinent.

"We were very unhappy when Ministry of External Affairs in Delhi tried to pick holes with what has been announced without considering how much greater was the sheer quantum of our package compared to that of India," Pakistan Foreign Minister Khurshid Muhammad Kasuri said.

Pakistan Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali has announced some "important" measures to restore air, rail and road links with India in addition to offering trade concessions under South Asian Association for Regional Co-operation (SAARC) and release of Indian prisoners, he said.

"It is easy to pick faults with everything you do. Pakistan could have said India announced only two CBMs. We welcomed them. We could have repeated our known position on Kashmir," he said.

In reply to a question, Kasuri said he hoped that after Armitage's visit to the region "we will start talking to each other as openly as we want. Whether we like it or not, it is common friends who will have to play some role. Sooner we talk to each other directly the better".

Armitage flew to New Delhi on May 9 from Islamabad after holding talks with Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf, Jamali, Kasuri and other top officials.

PTI