Islamabad: In the face of India reacting coldly to his plans, Pakistan's Foreign Minister Khurshid Mehmood Kasuri has dropped his proposal to visit India to deliver the invitation for the SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) summit to be held in Islamabad in January 2004 as a protest against "discourteous" remarks by External Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha.

"The Indian Minister's remarks were not only discourteous, but also reflected his utter contempt for South Asian cultural values, traditions of hospitality and established SAARC practice," a late night statement issued by Pakistan Foreign Office spokesman said on September 16, referring to Sinha's remarks that Kasuri's visit was not strictly necessary.

Expressing surprise over Sinha's remarks, the Pakistan spokesman said it was "inappropriate" and regretted that he had "objected" to Kasuri's visit to SAARC capitals to personally deliver the invitation letters.

"The Indian Foreign Minister has perhaps forgotten that it was a SAARC tradition, which was being strictly adhered to by the countries of the region interested in the continuation of the SAARC process," he said.

PTI