People and Indian army gather near the wreckage of an Indian aircraft after it crashed about 34 km south of Srinagar city, Indian-controlled Kashmir, Feb. 27, 2019. (Xinhua)

MOSCOW, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- Russia on Wednesday urged India and Pakistan to exercise restraint following fighter downing over the Kashmir region.

"We call on both sides to show restraint and step up efforts to resolve existing problems by political and diplomatic means," the Russian foreign ministry said in a statement.

The ministry said it is ready to further assist in strengthening the counterterrorism potential of New Delhi and Islamabad.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters that the Kremlin was closely monitoring the situation and expected the parties to exercise restraint.

Earlier in the day, Pakistan said its air force had shot down two Indian fighter jets inside its airspace and captured an Indian pilot.

India confirmed that Pakistan destroyed one of its MiG-21 aircraft and that the pilot is missing. Meanwhile, India added it had downed one Pakistani fighter, which Islamabad denied.

Kashmir, the Himalayan region divided between India and Pakistan, is claimed by both in full. Since their independence from Britain, the two countries have fought three wars, two exclusively over Kashmir.