NEW DELHI, Sept 4: India on Saturday expressed disappointment at Foreign Minister Khurshid Mehmood Kasuri's remarks in which he had sought progress on the Kashmir dispute with the involvement of Kashmiris.

"There is considerable disappointment here at the unifocal statement by the Pakistan foreign minister earlier today about relations with India prior to his departure," Indian foreign ministry spokesman Navtej Sarna said in response to a question.

"This is not in consonance with the spirit in which we have conducted the composite dialogue so far. It also violates Pakistan's own call for a rhetoric restraint regime," Mr Sarna said.

Earlier on Saturday, foreign office spokesman Masood Khan was asked during a press conference in New Delhi if the controversy would cloud the foreign ministers' talks beginning on Sunday. He denied that would be the case.-J.N.