Washington: The Group of Seven (G7) nations called on India and Pakistan to immediately de-escalate rising hostilities and engage in direct dialogue, as fears mount over the intensifying conflict between the two nuclear-armed neighbors.
The United States, a key player in global diplomacy, has offered to assist both countries in initiating constructive talks to avert further violence.
The crisis has increased sharply since India launched air strikes and missile attacks on Pakistan on Wednesday in response to a deadly militant assault in India-administered Kashmir. Daily clashes along the border have since claimed dozens of lives, raising alarms among international powers over the potential for a broader regional conflict.
In a joint statement, the foreign ministers of the G7 countries Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States along with the European Union, condemned the April 22 militant attack in Kashmir that left 26 people dead.
India has accused Pakistan of harboring the Islamist militants responsible, a charge Pakistan has denied, urging instead for a neutral international investigation.
G7 Foreign Ministers’ statement on India and Pakistan
To read the statement: https://t.co/FWKoHZynsm
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The disputed Himalayan region of Kashmir remains a flashpoint between Hindu-majority India and Islamic Pakistan. Claimed in full but controlled in parts by both nations, the area has seen repeated wars, insurgencies, and diplomatic standoffs since 1947.
The United States, which maintains strategic relations with both countries, has stepped up efforts to defuse the crisis. Secretary of State Marco Rubio held a call on Friday with Pakistan’s Army Chief General Asim Munir, offering US assistance in launching talks to prevent further conflict.
India has increasingly been viewed as a strategic counterweight to China by the West, deepening its ties with the US and allies in recent years. Conversely, while Pakistan remains a formal US ally, its strategic relevance to Washington has diminished since the American withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021.
While diplomatic pressure is mounting for calm, the road to lasting peace remains uncertain. Analysts warn that unless both nations recommit to sustained dialogue over Kashmir, periodic escalations could spiral into full-blown conflict.
