New Delhi - India has strongly reacted to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's recent comments regarding Kashmir.

In a statement to the media on Saturday, Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said Pakistan has never exported good wishes to Kashmir but only terrorism. "Pakistan's Prime Minister (Nawaz Sharif) says that his good wishes are with the people of Kashmir.," Sushma said and added "Sadly, it's not Pakistan's good wishes or moral or diplomatic support but its weapons and terrorism that it has exported to Jammu and Kashmir," she said.

Sushma Swaraj was flanked by Ministers of State for External Affairs VK Singh and MJ Akbar as she read out the statement.

Sushma said that Pakistan's dangerous terrorists and duplicitous state institutions sought to destabilise the region. "The statement of none other than the Prime Minister of Pakistan has betrayed this despicable design. But I would like to repeat that this dream of Pakistan will never be fulfilled," she said.

She stated that in the last few days, the Pakistani leadership, including Prime Minister Sharif, has praised as a martyr a wanted terrorist like Wani.

She said a country which has used fighter planes and artillery against millions of its own people has no right whatsoever to point a finger against India's brave, professional and disciplined police and other security forces.

"Their (Indian forces') restraint and respect for their fellow citizens is evident in the unusually high number of the injured personnel - more than 1700 - in the violence unleashed with the support from across the border in Jammu and Kashmir," she stated.

She said that behind Pakistan's unabashed embrace and encouragement to terrorism lay its delusional though dangerous dream that Kashmir would one day become Pakistan.

"The whole of India would like to tell Prime Minister of Pakistan that this dream will not be realised even at the end of eternity," Sushma said.

"The whole of Jammu and Kashmir belongs to India. You will never be able to make this heaven on earth a haven for terrorists."

Sushma’s remarks came after Nawaz Sharif's statement on Friday at Muzaffarabad in Azad Kashmir that Pakistanis were waiting for the day when Jammu and Kashmir would become a part of Pakistan.

In his first public address following his return from London after open heart surgery in May, Nawaz Sharif urged Kashmiris in Pakistan "not to forget those in (Indian) held Kashmir who are sacrificing their lives to their movement for freedom".

"Their movement for freedom cannot be stopped and it will be successful. You are aware of how they are being beaten and killed. All our prayers are with them and we are waiting for the day Kashmir becomes Pakistan," the prime minister said.

Pakistan has taken a stridently anti-India line since mass protests erupted in the Kashmir Valley after the July 8 killing by Indian security forces of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani.

Street clashes between those protesting Wani's killing and the security forces have left over 45 people dead and hundreds injured. Many have been blinded by pellets used by the security forces.

Meanwhile, Occupied Kashmir residents said they are facing shortages of prescription drugs, as parts of the region remained under curfew. Shopkeepers warned supplies were running low because trucks were unable to reach them, while residents complained of being "caged" in their homes.

"People are suffering without medicines. A lot of people are struggling for medicines for diabetes, hypertension and anti-depressants," said pharmacist Nazir Ahmed in Srinagar.

With most vehicles ordered off the roads under the curfew, Ahmed said he walked five kilometres (three miles) to a warehouse to buy medicines. "No fresh supplies are coming from outside. This will last two to three days for my neighbourhood," Ahmed said, carrying plastic bags full of drugs.

In parts of Srinagar Tuesday, residents kept watch for volunteers from local charities delivering supplies including food on foot. An elderly woman suffering from hypertension and a heart condition said she hoped they would bring medicines soon.

"I don't have my medicines. Some volunteers came but they did not have the medicines I need," Noora, 80, who uses one name, said from her doorstep.

"We are just caged inside our home," her son, Ghulam Nabi Ahangar, added.

Ahangar said security forces were firing tear gas and pepper spray at night to deter people from venturing outside.

Some pharmacies outside hospitals are open but few residents can reach them, while internet and phone services remain patchy.

"Patients who have not been able to reach hospitals will come in large numbers once the curfew is lifted. It will be another huge emergency," said Kaisar Ahmed, head of Sri Maharaja Hari Singh and six other government hospitals in Srinagar.