MOSCOW, March 1. /TASS/. Russia is ready to provide all possible assistance to resolve the crisis in relations between India and Pakistan, Presidential Spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.

"Russia is, naturally, ready to contribute to the early normalization of the crisis situation [in relations between India and Pakistan] in every possible way," he said. "However, that depends, first and foremost, on the parties, which have to do with the conflict situation."

He noted that Russian President Vladimir Putin had discussed the situation during a phone call with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "No contacts with the Pakistani counterpart are planned so far," the Kremlin spokesman added.

Tensions in relations between India and Pakistan flared up on February 14 when a suicide attacker rammed his car filled with explosives into an Indian paramilitary convoy in Jammu and Kashmir, killing 45. The Jaish-e-Mohammed group claimed responsibility for the attack.

On Tuesday, India carried out an airstrike on this group’s camp in a Kashmir area controlled by Pakistan. On Wednesday, the Pakistani Air Force retaliated by targeting military facilities of Jammu and Kashmir. New Delhi and Islamabad also claimed that they had shot down each other’s jets during a dogfight.

The situation in Jammu and Kashmir - the only Indian state where Muslims constitute a majority - has been tense for years. Groups calling for breaking away from India have been active in its Indian part. New Delhi accuses Islamabad of supporting terrorists, while Pakistan rejects these claims.