Washington: As tensions continue to rise between India and Pakistan, the Group of Seven (G7) nations on Saturday called on both countries to exercise maximum restraint and avoid further military action. The G7 urged both sides to de-escalate immediately and resolve their differences through peaceful talks.
The G7 — which includes Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, United Kingdom, United States, and European Union — expressed concern over the situation between the two nuclear-armed neighbours. In a joint statement, the foreign ministers said they are closely monitoring the ongoing military developments and called for a “swift and lasting diplomatic resolution.”
G7 nations condemn Pahalgam attack
The group strongly condemned the terror attack in Pahalgam on April 22, which killed 26 people and triggered the current round of hostilities. The statement warned that further military escalation could seriously affect peace and stability in the entire region. “We are deeply concerned for the safety of civilians on both sides,” the ministers added.
The G7’s appeal comes amid continued drone attacks, explosions and military responses along the India-Pakistan border, with casualties reported on both sides, including the death of a senior Indian official in Rajouri due to Pakistani shelling.
US in contact with both nations
Earlier in the day, United States also made a strong statement on the matter. White House press secretary Caroline Levitt said that the US is actively working to reduce tensions between India and Pakistan. She said that US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and National Security Advisor are in constant contact with leaders of both nations.
Levitt said that President Joe Biden is keen on seeing an end to the conflict and wants the situation to calm down as soon as possible. “These are two countries that have had differences for decades, but the US maintains a good relationship with both. Our goal is to help both sides avoid further conflict,” she said.
Secretary of State Rubio, according to Levitt, have been regularly speaking with the foreign ministers of India and Pakistan, urging them to avoid further military actions and instead find a peaceful solution.
